Retail store closings 2020: The list of chains that closed stores in N.J. and nationwide this year

It has been a rough year for the brick-and-mortar retail industry.

As the coronavirus pandemic swept across the nation in 2020, many major retailers announced permanent store closings or filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to declining sales and temporary store closures.

While the brick-and-mortar industry has struggled, many people have been turning to online shopping during the pandemic, and retailers are noticing. Companies that have filed for bankruptcy or shuttered stores have pulled out all the stops to take advantage of the surge.

Here’s a look at all the major chains that have shuttered stores permanently this year, along with any current online sales they are offering.

24 Hour Fitness

Gym chain 24 Hour Fitness announced in June it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has permanently closed more than 130 gyms, including seven in New Jersey.

The company said the bankruptcy filing was due to the “disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

These seven New Jersey locations have permanently closed:

• Avenel: 1624 Saint Georges Ave.
• Hasbrouck Heights: 459 Route 17
• Jersey City: 918 Bergen Ave.
• Parsippany: 30 Sylvan Way
• Piscataway: 1327 Centennial Ave.
• Saddle Brook: 189 U.S. Highway 46
• Wayne: 133 Route 23

AMC Theatres

One of the biggest movie theater chains in New Jersey and the country permanently closed its location in Hamilton in November due to the impact from the coronavirus.

It was located at 325 Sloan Ave., right off Exit 65A on Route 295.

Ann Taylor

Parent company Ascena Retail Group Inc. closed its Ann Taylor factory store in the Jackson Premium Outlets at 537 Monmouth Rd. after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Although not a liquidation sale, you can find plenty of items on clearance.

AT&T

Wireless carrier AT&T announced earlier this year it would permanently close more than 250 of its stores and cut at least 3,400 jobs nationwide.

AT&T cited the economic impact and change in customer behavior due to the coronavirus pandemic as reasons for the store closures, according to a report by Business Insider.

Banana Republic

Gap Inc. said during a meeting with investors in October that it plans to close a combined 350 Banana Republic and Gap stores by the end of 2023, a number that represents about 30% of its fleet.

The focus of the closings will be stores located inside malls. Once complete, 80% of Gap Inc.’s remaining stores will be outside of malls.

Liquidation sales for closing stores have not been announced, but you can still get 50% off your entire purchase online.

Bath & Body Works

The beauty brand’s parent, L Brands, announced in May that 51 stores in the U.S. and Canada would shutter by the end of 2020. There are currently 1,739 Bath & Body Works stores in North America, according to the company’s website.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond said it would shutter the stores in Howell (4075 Route 9), Rockaway (202 Enterprise Dr.) and Toms River (1240 Hooper Ave.) after announcing 63 locations will close by the end of 2020. Stores in Sewell and Newton also have closed this year.

In July, Bed Bath & Beyond announced plans to permanently close about 200 stores over the next two years.

As for online sales, you can get the iRobot Roomba i3+ for $100 off, along with Nespresso machines for up to 30% off.

Brooks Brothers

The 202 year-old clothing retailer announced in July it would permanently close 51 stores, in addition to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The women’s store in the Shops at Riverside at 1 Riverside Square in Hackensack also shuttered.

Although not a liquidation sale, the retailer is holding a holiday sale with items 50% off sitewide.

Carter’s

Children’s clothing retailer Carter’s said in October during an earnings call that it’s planning to close at least 200 stores, including its OshKosh B’gosh locations, as leases expire over the next couple of years.

The closures will account for about 25% of Carter’s store portfolio. The focus will be older, lower-profit stores in declining shopping centers, Carter’s said. About 80% of the stores will close by the end of 2022.

Like many retailers, the company has ramped up its e-commerce sales this year as shopping trends have shifted online. Right now, you can find doorbuster deals starting at $5 at both Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh.

Catherines

Ascena Retail Group Inc., Catherines’ parent company, has shuttered the following seven Catherines locations in New Jersey after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy:

• Deptford: 1500 Almonesson Rd.
• Edison: Wick Shopping Plaza; 561 Route 1
• Freehold: Pond Road Plaza; 4345 Route 9
• Lawrenceville: 3321 Brunswick Pike
• Moorestown: 1620 Nixon Dr.
• Paramus: Route 4 W.
• Union: 1701 Morris Ave.

If you missed any going-out-of-business sales in person, you can still find clearance items for up to 50% off online.

Century 21

The off-price retailer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing all 13 of its department stores, including three in New Jersey — Elizabeth, Paramus and Morristown. Its store in Elizabeth at The Mills at Jersey Gardens has already shuttered, according to its website.

Liquidation sales have begun at all stores, but have ended online.

Fairway Market

The Paramus location closed in May after Amazon purchased it following the supermarket chain’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this year.

Its Woodland Park store also has closed and will be replaced with an Amazon Fresh store.

Francesca’s

Women’s boutique company Francesca’s is planning to shutter 237 stores, including five in New Jersey, after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to court documents.

There are currently 25 Francesca’s stores in New Jersey, according to its website. The following locations will close:

• Deptford: Deptford Mall; 1750 Deptford Center Rd.
• Elizabeth: The Mills at Jersey Gardens; 651 Kapkowski Rd.
• Mays Landing: Hamilton Mall; 4403 Black Horse Pike
• Westfield: 161 East Broad St.
• Woodbridge: Woodbridge Center; 216 Woodbridge Center Dr.

Liquidation sales have launched at all closing stores. Francesca’s is also holding a semi-annual sale with items up to 70% off sitewide.

GameStop

Video game retailer GameStop has plans to close up to 450 stores worldwide by the end of the fiscal year, an increase from its original plan of shuttering about 320 locations.

Earlier this year, GameStop closed its Hamilton Mall store at 4403 East Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing.

If you missed out on the liquidation sale, you can still find plenty of deals on games online.

Gap

Gap Inc. said during a meeting with investors in October that it plans to close a combined 350 Gap and Banana Republic stores by the end of 2023, a number that represents about 30% of its fleet.

The focus of the closings will be stores located inside malls. Once complete, 80% of Gap Inc.’s remaining stores will be outside of malls.

Liquidation sales for closing stores have not been announced, but you can still find select items for up to 50% off.

GNC

The nutrition supplement retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June and closed up to 1,200 stores, including 50 in New Jersey.

It’s unclear if liquidation sales were held, but you can still find deals on select supplements and protein powders online.

Gordmans

Gordmans’ parent, Stage Stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and liquidated stores.

Its New Jersey locations were in Pennsville, Brown Mills, Bridgeton, Rio Grande and Seaville.

JCPenney

The department store chain said it would permanently close 168 stores after filing for bankruptcy, and those plans appear to still stand. Two more locations have since been added to its store closing list.

The 11 JCPenney stores in New Jersey are not affected.

Although not a liquidation sale, JCPenney is offering fine and fashion jewelry for up to 70% off, along with toys up to 25% off.

Justice

Tween clothing brand Justice will shutter all its locations by early 2021.

The five, last-standing Justice locations in New Jersey already have closed. Those stores were located in Cherry Hill, Edison, Freehold, Paramus and Wayne.

Liquidation sales have launched in stores and online, with everything up to 80% off.

Lane Bryant

Ascena Retail Group Inc., Lane Bryant’s parent company, announced 10 Lane Bryant locations in New Jersey would close after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy:

• Bridgewater: Somerset Shopping Center; 369 Route 202 and 206
• Cherry Hill: Hillview Shopping Center; 2135 Route 38
• Elizabeth (Outlet Store): The Mills at Jersey Gardens; 651 Kapkowski Rd.
• Jackson (Outlet Store): Jackson Premium Outlets; 537 Monmouth Rd.
• Lawrenceviile: Quaker Bridge Mall; 3320 Route 1
• Livingston (Outlet Store): Livingston Mall; 112 Eisenhower Pkwy.
• Marlton: Willow Ridge Plaza, 748A Route 73 S.
• Mays Landing: Hamilton Commons; 4215 Black Horse Pike
• South Plainfield: Hadley Shopping Center; 4989 Stelton Rd.
• Wayne: Wayne Towne Center; 173 Route 23

Although not a liquidation sale, you can still find clearance items for up to 60% off.

Lord & Taylor

The nearly 200-year-old department store will permanently close all of its 38 stores after originally planning to shutter 24.

Lucky Brand

Denim company Lucky Brand has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced it would close 13 stores. There are 10 Lucky Brand stores in New Jersey, but none were affected in the round of store closures.

Currently, you can get sale items for an extra 40% off.

Microsoft

Computer and technology giant Microsoft announced plans to permanently close almost all of its 82 retail stores. Microsoft’s three store locations in New Jersey were in Bridgewater, Freehold and Paramus.

Neiman Marcus

High-end department store Neiman Marcus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, saying it would “continue to assess store closure decisions.” There are currently two Neiman Marcus stores in New Jersey: one at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, and another in The Mall at Short Hills.

In March, Neiman Marcus announced it would close most of its Last Call stores to focus on full-priced luxury sales instead of discount offerings.

New York & Company

The women’s clothing chain has permanently closed at least 20 locations in New Jersey amid filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

If you missed out on liquidation sales, you can still get everything for up to 70% off online.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom announced in May it would permanently close 16 of its department stores, including its Freehold Raceway Mall location, leaving just four left in New Jersey.

You can currently find select designer items for up to 60% off.

Party City

Party City said it would permanently close 21 stores this year as part of a “store optimization” plan that began in 2019 with 55 store closures.

There are currently 26 Party City stores in the Garden State.

Pet Valu

Pet Valu announced in November it will close all 358 of its stores in the United States due to the “severe impact” of the coronavirus pandemic.

The specialty pet supplies retailer, which currently has over 40 locations in New Jersey, has launched liquidation sales at all stores. A specific timeline for store closures has not yet been announced.

Pet Valu’s e-commerce website also has ceased operations. The company says customers can continue to use gift cards and loyalty rewards for in-store purchases.

Pier 1 Imports

The home decor retailer announced in June it received approval from bankruptcy court to shutter and liquidate all of its roughly 540 stores, including its e-commerce operations.

All store closings and liquidation sales concluded in October. Pier 1 Imports has since relaunched its online store.

PVH Corp.

PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and several other fashion brands, will shutter all its 162 IZOD and Van Heusen stores across North America by late 2021.

Although not touted as a liquidation sale, IZOD is offering 25% off already reduced items sitewide, along with Van Heusen.

Regal Cinemas

Regal Cinemas parent, Cineworld Group, announced in October it has temporarily suspended operations indefinitely at all 536 of its U.S. theaters.

The company lost $1.64 billion in the first half of the year due in large part to the pandemic.

Sears

Sears shuttered its Rockaway and Hackensack stores, leaving just one department store in New Jersey: Newport Centre in Jersey City.

The struggling company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2018 and has since experienced many store closures.

Sherwin-Williams

Painting retailer Sherwin-Williams closed its Metuchen store in October after more than 50 years of business. It was located at 67 Pearl St., right around the corner from the town’s main street and CVS store.

Signet Jewelers

Signet Jewelers, the parent company of the brands Kay Jewelers, Piercing Pagoda and Zales, revealed in June that about 380 U.S. and Europe stores will permanently close.

Stores in declining malls will be impacted the most. The company currently operates over 50 jewelry stores in New Jersey, but it was unknown if any would close.

Stein Mart

Stein Mart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shuttered all its stores. There were four in New Jersey: Cherry Hill, Holmdel, Ocean and Watchung.

Its online operations also shut down.

Sur La Table

The kitchen and cookware retailer permanently shuttered its Lawrenceville and Marlton stores amid filing for bankruptcy. There are now no Sur La Table stores left in New Jersey.

During its bankruptcy, the company has continued to hold online sales and is currently offering clearance items for up to 65% off.

Tailored Brands

Tailored Brands, the parent company of Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank and other men’s fashion brands, announced it has identified up to 500 stores that could potentially close “over time” prior to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Although not marketed as a liquidation sale, Men’s Wearhouse is offering clearance items for up to 80% off, as is Jos. A. Bank.

The Children’s Place

Kids clothing retailer The Children’s Place announced in June plans to close 300 stores over the next 20 months to “dramatically” reduce its brick-and-mortar portfolio.

The Children’s Place stores will mostly be leaving malls, with about 200 stores closing in 2020 and 100 more in 2021. There are 33 The Children’s Place locations in New Jersey.

The company is currently holding an online sale with items up to 60% off sitewide.

Tilton Fitness

Gym chain Tilton Fitness announced in June it has permanently closed due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tilton Fitness had locations in Brick, Edgewater, Galloway, Hazlet, Jackson, Manahwakin and Northfield. It was also planning to open a new fitness center in Atlantic City.

Ulta Beauty

The popular beauty store has permanently closed its Vineland store at Cumberland Mall.

Ulta Beauty is also currently holding a “Holiday Beauty Blitz” sale with select items up to 50% off online.

Victoria’s Secret

The Victoria’s Secret and PINK stores in Shrewsbury at 577 Route 35 have permanently closed.

Victoria’s Secret’s parent company, L Brands, announced in May that about 250 stores in the U.S. and Canada would permanently close this year. In 2019, Victoria’s Secret shuttered dozens of stores nationwide, although none in New Jersey were affected.

It’s unclear if liquidation sales will be held, but you can still find leggings starting at $35; slippers for $10 and pajama sets starting at $39.50.

Walmart

Retail giant Walmart permanently closed its only Princeton location on Aug. 13. It was located just off of Route 1 at 101 Nassau Park Blvd., which is technically in West Windsor, although Walmart listed it as its Princeton store.

Walmart routinely offers online deals across all its categories.

Zara

Inditex, the parent company of fashion brand Zara, announced in June plans to close up to 1,200 stores worldwide by the end of 2021.

The closings will be “stores at the end of their useful life” and “whose sales can be recovered in nearby stores and online,” the company said.

About 100 stores in North and South America will close. There are currently seven Zara stores in New Jersey, but it is unknown if any will be impacted.

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Nicolette Accardi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips