Is Your Favorite Store Closing?

We all know the economy is lagging. Retail is in a slump. I knew it was getting bad, I just didn't know it was this bad. Check out the following store closings and layoffs. This was a huge eye opener for me as I shop at a number of these stores. I am guessing they are not anticipating holiday spending to make a difference.

If you have a gift card at one of these store, I would use it now. If you truly love someone on your Christmas list do not purchase them a gift card from one of the following...

STORE CLOSINGS AND LAYOFFS

*Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide
A company spokeswoman said the company hasn't revealed which stores will be shuttered It will let the stores that will close this fiscal year know over the next month.

*Eddie Bauer to close more stores
Eddie Bauer has already closed 27 shops in the first quarter and plans to close up to two more outlet stores by the end of the year.

*Cache closing stores
Women's retailer Cache announced that it is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.

*Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherine's closing 150 stores nationwide:
The owner of retailers Lane Bryant , Fashion Bug , Catherine's Plus Sizes will close about 150 under performing stores this year. The company hasn't provided a list of specific store closures and can't say when it will offer that info, spokeswoman Brooke Perry said today.

*Talbots, J. Jill closing stores
About a month ago, Talbot's announced that it will be shuttering all 78 of its kid's and men's stores. Now the company says it will close another 22under performing stores..The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbot's women's and J. Jill, another chain it owns. The closures will occur this fiscal year, according to a company press release.

*Gap Inc.
closing 85 stores
In addition to its namesake chain, Gap also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic . The company said the closures - all planned for fiscal 2008 -will be weighted toward the Gap brand.

*Foot Locker to close 140 stores
In the company press release and during its conference call with analysts today, it did not specify where the future store closures - all planned in fiscal 2008 - will be.
The company could not be immediately reached for comment

*Zales, Piercing Pagoda closing stores
The owner of Zales and Piercing Pagoda previously said it plans to close 82 stores by July 31. Today, it announced that it is closing another 23 under performing stores.
The company said it's not providing a list of specific store closures. Of the 105 locations planned for closure, 50 are kiosks and 55 are stores.

*Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores

*The Children's Place Retail Stores. The exact number of stores acquired will depend on negotiations with landlords.Those subsidiaries of Children's Place filed for bankruptcy protection in late March.

*Home Depot store closings: The Home Depot Inc announced Thursday that it is shuttering 15 of them amid a slumping U.S.economy and housing market.
The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store for performance reasons. Its shares rose almost5 percent.The Atlanta-based company said the under performing U.S. stores being closed represents less than 1 percent of its existing stores. They will be shuttered within the next two months.

*Macy's - 9 stores

*Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores

*Pep Boys - 33 stores

*Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations New Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse appears to have inherited a company bleeding subscribers by the thousands, and will now officially be dropping the ax on 4,000 employees and 125 retail locations. Amid the loss of 639,000 post paid customers in the fourth quarter, Sprint will be cutting a total of 6.7% of its work force (following the 5,000 layoffs last year) and 8% of company-owned brick-and-mortar stores.

*J. C. Penney's, Lowe's and Office Depot are scaling back

*Ethan Allen Interiors: The company announced plans to close 12 of 300+
stores in an effort to cut costs.

*Wilsons the Leather Experts - 158 stores

*Pacific Sunwear will close its 154 Demo stores after a review of strategic alternatives for the urban-apparel brand. Seventy-four under performing Demo stores closed last May.

*Sharper Image: The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and
announced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing. The retailer will still operate 94 stores to pay off debts, but 90 of these stores have performed poorly and also may close.

*KB Toys posted a list of 356 stores that it is closing around the United States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

*Dillard's to Close More Stores
Dillard's Inc. said it will continue to focus on closing under performing stores, reducing expenses and improving its merchandise in 2008. At the company's annual shareholder meeting, CEO William Dillard II said the company will close another six under performing stores this year.

For those of us in the Des Moines metro, does Jordan Creek Town Center come to mind? They have over half of these stores. Play it safe-if you are gift card giving this holiday season, get it for the mall and not a specific store.