As Black Friday nears, shoppers in the District of Columbia and beyond face a challenging reality: fewer places to hunt for deals as retail store closures continue to mount.
Across the U.S., more than 2,000 stores are reportedly set to close by the end of 2024, with 13 major retail chains contributing to 2,055 closures.
In D.C., the loss is particularly noticeable for local businesses and communities.
Aurora Market, a family-owned and veteran-operated store in the Brookland neighborhood, recently announced its indefinite closure. Located on Rhode Island Avenue, the market had been a trusted resource for underserved communities.
“This was more than just a store,” one Aurora Market shopper stated. “It was part of our neighborhood’s heart.”
Nonetheless, the market became the target of thieves in nearly a dozen incidents, including four break-ins this year. The repeated robberies proved too much for the store to bear, forcing its owners to shut down.
A Nationwide Shift in Retail
Family Dollar is leading the wave of closures, shutting down at least 600 locations this year. Other major retailers like Walmart and TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, are also closing stores that failed to meet performance expectations, and simultaneously opening new ones in more profitable markets.
Walmart plans to close seven stores that underperformed financially while opening 14 new or expanded locations next year.
Advance Auto Parts announced it would shutter more than 700 stores as part of a broader business strategy to improve profitability.
Pharmacies are also downsizing. CVS is in the final stages of its three-year plan to close 900 locations, citing shifts in population and consumer buying patterns. Rite Aid is set to close 77 more stores, following 150 closures last year, as it navigates bankruptcy restructuring. Walgreens has announced plans to close 1,200 locations over the next three years, though the first round of closures won’t occur until 2025.
In D.C., the effects of these closures extend beyond the loss of shopping options. The closing pharmacies often serve as vital community resources, and scaling back leaves gaps in access to essential goods.
Retailers such as Foot Locker and Macy’s are rethinking their strategies as shopping patterns evolve.
Foot Locker closed 113 stores this year, while Macy’s began implementing a plan to shutter 150 locations over the next three years, starting with 50 in 2024.
Financially struggling brands like Express have taken drastic steps, closing 95 flagship stores and 12 UpWest-branded locations.
Restaurant chains are also not immune to the downturn.
Denny’s has announced the closure of 50 restaurants by the end of this year, with an additional 100 set to close in 2025. The company is focusing on underperforming locations to improve profitability.
Retail’s Evolving Landscape
The retail industry continues to transform in response to economic and societal changes.
UBS analysts project that as many as 45,000 stores could close nationwide over the next five years, driven largely by the struggles of smaller retailers.
While big-box chains like Costco, Target, and Home Depot continue to expand, many companies are reevaluating their operations to align with shifting consumer habits.
For 7-Eleven’s parent company, financial underperformance tied to declining tobacco use, flavored nicotine bans, and reductions in SNAP benefits led to the decision to close 444 North American locations.
LL Flooring, formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, is going out of business entirely, with its remaining 200 stores holding liquidation sales before permanently closing.
For those who frequented Aurora Market, the store’s closing is heartbreaking and will be a major shift for the Brookland community.
“Seeing it close feels like losing a piece of who we are,” an Aurora Market shopper explained.
