Honestly, walking into a Macy's lately feels a bit like visiting an old friend who’s moved into a much smaller apartment but bought a really nice espresso machine. It's confusing. You see the "Store Closing" signs at one mall, yet headlines talk about the company's stock hitting multi-year highs.
The reality? Macy's is closing dozens of stores across the country as part of a massive "Bold New Chapter" strategy. It sounds like corporate speak, but for the people in places like La Mesa, California, or Grandville, Michigan, it means their local anchor is vanishing.
By the end of 2026, the company will have axed about 150 locations. That’s nearly a third of their fleet. But if you think this is just another "retail apocalypse" story where everyone loses, you’re missing the bigger picture.
The 2026 Hit List: Where the Axe is Falling
Just a few days ago, specifically on January 9, 2026, Macy's identified the latest batch of 14 stores scheduled to go dark. Most of these will start liquidation sales immediately and wrap up within ten weeks.
Here is a look at some of the latest confirmed locations being shuttered:
- California: Grossmont Center (La Mesa) and West Valley Mall (Tracy).
- New Jersey: Livingston Mall and the small-format store in Ramsey.
- New York: Boulevard Mall in Amherst.
- Texas: La Palmera in Corpus Christi.
- Washington: The Budget House furniture clearance center in Tukwila.
- Other States: Locations in Atlanta (GA), Glen Burnie (MD), Grandville (MI), Saint Cloud (MN), Newington (NH), Raleigh (NC), and Tarentum (PA).
It’s a gut punch for local shoppers. You’ve probably spent years wandering those aisles for last-minute prom dresses or holiday gifts. Now, those massive multi-story buildings are becoming giant question marks for mall owners.
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Why Scale Back When Sales are Actually... Up?
This is the weird part. In late 2025, Macy's reported its strongest sales in 13 quarters. CEO Tony Spring—the former Bloomingdale’s boss—isn't closing stores because the whole company is failing. He’s closing them to save the ones that are actually making money.
Basically, they are categorizing stores into "go-forward" locations and "underproductive" ones.
Think of it like pruning a rose bush. You cut off the dying stems so the healthy ones can bloom. The "Reimagine 125" program is the healthy part. These are the 125 stores where Macy's has actually spent money on better lighting, more staff, and cooler brands. In those stores, sales grew by over 2% last year. Meanwhile, the stores closing across the country were often trapped in "dead malls" where foot traffic has basically evaporated.
The Luxury Pivot: Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury
If you want to know where the money is going, look at the fancy stuff. While the core Macy's brand is shrinking, its luxury siblings are booming.
- Bloomingdale’s: Posted a massive 9% comparable sales growth in Q3 2025.
- Bluemercury: Has seen growth for 19 consecutive quarters.
Tony Spring is a luxury guy at heart. He knows that middle-class retail is a battlefield where Amazon and Target usually win. But luxury? People still want to touch a $400 handbag before they buy it. The plan includes opening about 15 new Bloomingdale's and 30 new Bluemercury shops while the old-school Macy's department stores get leaner.
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It’s Not Just About "The Internet"
We always blame online shopping. And yeah, e-commerce is a huge reason Macy's is closing dozens of stores across the country. But there’s more to it.
Real estate costs are skyrocketing. Labor is more expensive. Then there’s the "middle-class squeeze." Today’s shoppers are either hunting for extreme bargains at TJ Maxx or splurging on high-end luxury. The "middle" where Macy’s lived for 150 years is a lonely place to be right now.
Macy's is also trying to fend off activist investors like Arkhouse Management. These guys have been pushing for a buyout, arguing that Macy's real estate—the land the stores sit on—is worth more than the actual retail business. By closing underperforming stores and potentially selling the land, Macy's is trying to unlock that value before someone else does it for them.
What This Means for Your Shopping Trip
Don't expect the remaining 350 Macy's stores to look like the one from your childhood. They are becoming "omnichannel hubs." This means more space for picking up online orders and less space for racks of "clearance" clothes that nobody wants.
They are also leaning into "small-format" stores. These are tiny versions of Macy's—about a fifth of the size—located in strip centers rather than giant malls. They’re easier to shop and cheaper to run. If your local mall Macy's closes, don't be surprised if a "Market by Macy's" pops up in a nearby plaza a year later.
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Actionable Steps for Impacted Shoppers
If your local store is on the list, here is how to handle the transition:
Watch the Liquidation Timeline
Clearance sales usually start mid-month and last about 8 to 12 weeks. The first few weeks offer 10-30% off, but if you wait until the final 14 days, you can snag items for 70-90% off. Just know that the selection will be picked over by then.
Check Your Gift Cards and Returns
You can still return items bought at a closing store to any other Macy's location or via mail, provided you're within the return window. Gift cards don't "expire" just because a specific store closes; they are still valid online and at all other locations.
Update Your "My Store" Settings
If you use the Macy’s app, manually change your "preferred store" to the next closest location. This ensures you're seeing accurate "Pick Up In Store" inventory rather than being disappointed by out-of-stock notices from a ghost location.
Keep an Eye on the Mall's Future
A Macy's closure often triggers "co-tenancy" clauses. This means other stores in the mall might be allowed to break their leases or pay less rent now that the big anchor is gone. If you're a fan of other shops in that mall, be prepared for a potential domino effect of more closures.
Retail isn't dying; it's just getting a very aggressive haircut. Macy's is betting that a smaller, shinier version of itself can survive 2026 and beyond. Whether shoppers agree remains to be seen.