retail death watch

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cwerdna

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2011
Messages
13,671
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
https://www.tivocommunity.com/community/index.php?threads/the-retail-death-watch.549607/ (you need a free account there to see it) has had this going since 2017.

Discuss retailers (usually chains) closing storefronts or completely here. Chains that were on the brink before COVID-19 probably got the extra nudge/death blow if they couldn't stay open during lockdowns and/or had a huge drop in revenue.

I'll start with three:
Microsoft to permanently close all of its retail stores
Microsoft locations in NYC, London, Sydney, and Redmond will be turned into experience centers
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/26/21297400/microsoft-retail-stores-closing-cities-open

After 30 Years, Lucky Brand Files for Bankruptcy, Has Offer to Sell Company
Lucky said it plans to close 13 stores and could shutter more during the bankruptcy process
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/coronavirus/after-30-years-lucky-brand-files-for-bankruptcy-has-offer-to-sell-company/2390942/

LifeWay Christian is closing all its stores, including 23 in Texas
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2019/03/21/lifeway-christian-is-closing-all-its-stores-including-23-in-texas/ - I had to look up the name when going thru Google Maps and its archives looking for current/former stores at a local strip mall. One of these indeed closed at a local strip mall.
 
Here's one that died ages ago.

Vallco in Cupertino when I came back to visit the Bay Area sometime between 1997 and 2004 was already dead. Demolition finally began in Oct 2018: https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/12/17968200/demolition-vallco-mall-cupertino-nimbys-housing-silicon-valley. I can write more about how dead it was later.

I stumbled across a playlist of a bunch of drone flyovers of demolition in various states:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwkdfMOcT8s&list=PLEpLzY5yZuSwaL4h0DGO4wBDrpTs9LTy0&index=9&t=0s is when it was nearly gone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbNXGiR8awk&list=PLEpLzY5yZuSwaL4h0DGO4wBDrpTs9LTy0&index=1 is the earliest video he has, from Sept 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HFwooj10ZI&list=PLEpLzY5yZuSwaL4h0DGO4wBDrpTs9LTy0&index=6 at about 1:52 is what I think was the former AMC movie theater. I had seen a few movies there before.

Yes, it's near the Apple UFO campus, which can be seen in some videos. The dead mall was a total waste of very valuable land. If you look at Cupertino residential real estate prices, you’ll see why. Good riddance it got torn down.
 
^^^
That's true. Actually, IIRC, on that TiVoCommunity thread, restaurants tend to get included. They do occupy retail space...

On that note, here's and old one of those:

Beloved Buffet Chain Souplantation Permanently Closes
https://sandiego.eater.com/2020/5/7/21251275/souplantation-sweet-tomatoes-permanently-closing-san-diego-buffet-restaurant
Headquartered in San Diego County, where the first Souplantation opened in 1978, the all-you-can-eat chain now numbers nearly 100 outposts across the country. Run by parent company Garden Fresh Corp, the buffet restaurants are known as Sweet Tomatoes outside of Southern California
I'd always receive coupons for Sweet Tomatoes via snail mail but I never set foot in either of these locations. I guess I never will.

Storied apparel brand Brooks Brothers files for bankruptcy as it seeks a buyer and closes dozens of stores
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/08/brooks-brothers-files-for-bankruptcy-as-it-seeks-buyer-closes-stores.html

Back to Cupertino, the bottom of https://www.trulia.com/CA/Cupertino/ (they used to put these stats near the top, I think).
Affordability of Living in Cupertino, CA
The median sales price is $2,059,000
Homes are typically worth $2,932/sqft
That said, after browsing some listings, the $ per square foot seems way off. Seems more like $1000 per square foot.
 
Ann Taylor parent Ascena files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/23/ann-taylor-parent-ascena-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy.html
Ascena also said it plans to permanently close a “significant” number of Justice stores, along with certain Ann Taylor, Loft, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey stores during its restructuring.
It added that it will be permanently closing all of its stores, across brands, in Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
 
Dunkin' is closing 800 US locations
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/business/dunkin-donut-closures/index.html

California Pizza Kitchen files for bankruptcy
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/business/california-pizza-kitchen-bankruptcy/index.html - oh no!
 
What’s strange in my area is that the towns are immediately razing bankrupt businesses and razing homes with back taxes.

Never can figure out what is our the local yokels heads, we have a housing shortage crisis while the towns policy to demolish has gone into overdrive.
 
rmay635703 said:
What’s strange in my area is that the towns are immediately razing bankrupt businesses and razing homes with back taxes.

Never can figure out what is our the local yokels heads, we have a housing shortage crisis while the towns policy to demolish has gone into overdrive.

Not certain how widespread this is, but sure would be nice if your profile listed the city you live in.
 
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/03/coronavirus-lord-taylor-files-for-bankruptcy.html
Lord & Taylor, one of America’s oldest department stores, has filed for bankruptcy, joining a growing list of stores slammed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tailored Brands, the parent company of Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Banks, filed for bankruptcy as well.
 
Chuck E. Cheese parent files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/25/chuck-e-cheese-parent-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy.html

Chuck E. Cheese parent company to close 34 locations permanently: Is your location on the store closings list?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/06/26/chuck-e-cheese-store-closings-list-chapter-11-bankruptcy/3262669001/

TIL I learned that one of the locations in my city is closed but it's not in the above list. I did pass by tonight and from a distance, it looked closed. Supposedly, another larger location elsewhere in town is still open.
 
Dang. I have a history with Chuck E: back in the day I was a video game wizard - the kind with trophies, not the kind who wears a cape (those tend to prefer pinball). I used to spend a fair amount of time at our localish one, playing cheap video games. One of the large resident rodents took a real shine to me. She (I hope) used to watch me raptly while I played, and would often try to communicate something to me with gestures that I never quite understood. I never saw her(?) in human form, and I don't think she ever spoke an actual word to me, or if she did it was muffled by the rat head. Kind of sad, really. That, and the bankruptcy, of course...
 
Chuck E Cheese Pizza Time Theatre does have some Bay Area roots. It was founded by Nolan Bushnell, who also co-founded Atari: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/06/25/coronavirus-chuck-e-cheese-san-jose-bushnell-atari-bankruptcy/.

Sadly (?), I've never set foot in the location that's now closed. I'd been to their large location elsewhere in the city a few times when I was little. Maybe I should drop by, if they're open during COVID-19 to refresh my memory...

I wonder how many more will close or if it'll eventually be all of them by a year from now?
 
Sizzler, one of America's first steakhouse chains, files for bankruptcy
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/22/investing/sizzler-restaurant-bankruptcy/index.html
 
Ruby Tuesday files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection: 185 restaurants closed
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/10/07/ruby-tuesday-closing-185-restaurants-chapter-11-bankruptcy/5907136002/
But CEO Shawn Lederman said in a court filing the company has permanently closed 185 restaurants that had shut their doors during the coronavirus pandemic. That leaves the chain with 236 company-owned and operated locations, as well as an undisclosed number of locations run by 10 franchisee groups.

"We do not anticipate any additional restaurant closures at this time," Ruby Tuesday chief marketing officer Jenifer Boyd Harmon said in an emailed statement. "We remain committed to providing our guests with safe, quality experiences at all our current locations."
 
https://www.facebook.com/fryselectronics/posts/4894204417286735 today said
To our valued Campbell Fry's Store Customers,
As of today, our Campbell location is permanently closed.
Fry's will be repurposing this location for a different use in the near future.
We will continue to serve you at our nearby locations San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Fremont. And, for your convenience, we continue to offer same day delivery for online orders placed by 3PM as well.
Thank you for your continued support and business!
The Fry's Team
This is in Silicon Valley. Before COVID-19, they also closed their Palo Alto store.
 
Store closings 2021: Godiva to close its boutiques by end of March but chocolate will be sold online, other stores
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/01/22/store-closures-2021-godiva-boutiques-cafes-coronavirus/6673121002/
Godiva is closing all of its U.S. locations as in-store visits for its luxury chocolate dip during the coronavirus pandemic.

The company plans to shutter its 128 locations in North America, which includes 11 in Canada, by the end of March. But Godiva chocolates aren't disappearing completely. You can still get them online as well as at grocery and other stores.
...
Godiva will still "maintain retail operations across Europe, Middle East and Greater China in formats that reflect the unique cultural preferences of those markets."

Godiva closing 128 stores in North America, including all 11 in Canada
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/godiva-stores-1.5883575
 
https://twitter.com/bill0004/status/1364407906192424964?s=20 says
Bill Reynolds @bill0004
BREAKING Scoop: Fry’s Electronics is closing business nationwide effective tonight. Source: Wilsonville, OR store employee. http://Frys.com website will go down at 12am #Frys #FrysElectronics
Rumor's been spreading on the net. Their site had given me a 503 error but later was super slow. I wonder if it's going to come true.

Update: My local news is confirming it: https://twitter.com/kron4news/status/1364445597344800768?s=20. Have seen similar stories from other news outlets.
 
Fry's Electronics web site now has a statement saying they ceased regular operations and will implement an orderly wind down process. I am not surprised since both Phoenix stores have been reducing inventory for some time. I now must find some other source for electronic parts for projects.
 
GerryAZ said:
Fry's Electronics web site now has a statement saying they ceased regular operations and will implement an orderly wind down process. I am not surprised since both Phoenix stores have been reducing inventory for some time. I now must find some other source for electronic parts for projects.
At least for me, the closing of Fry's (we have a couple here in the DFW area) is the "nail in the coffin" for local electronics parts. The last time I needed 1 (green) LED, I bought a whole bag of assorted colors off of Amazon for the price of a couple of individual parts: no wonder the B&M options have gone out of business!
 
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