Macy’s is shutting down 14 more stores across the U.S. in 2026, signaling another major contraction for the once dominant department store chain as it presses forward with what executives are calling a “bold new chapter.”
The retailer confirmed Thursday that the closures will hit locations in 12 states, targeting what the company describes as “underproductive” stores that no longer fit its long term strategy.
CEO Tony Spring outlined the plan in a letter to employees and investors, framing the shutdowns as a necessary step to refocus the business.
“These targeted changes allow us to focus where it will have the greatest impact,” Spring wrote, pointing to modernizing top-performing stores, improving customer service, expanding luxury offerings, and strengthening supply chains.
The 14 closures are part of a much larger downsizing effort. Macy’s previously announced it intends to close 150 U.S. stores by 2026 as it reduces its physical footprint and pivots toward fewer, more profitable locations.
In 2025 alone, Macy’s closed 66 stores, roughly 10 percent of its total locations, according to retail research firm Coresight.
Now another wave is set to hit malls in California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and several other states, dealing fresh blows to already struggling shopping centers.
Two California stores, including locations in La Mesa and Tracy, will close, along with sites in Atlanta, Glen Burnie, Saint Cloud, Newington, Livingston, Ramsey, Amherst, Raleigh, Tarentum, Corpus Christi, and Tukwila.
Liquidation sales at the affected stores are expected to begin in mid-January and run for roughly 10 weeks, with most locations closing by the third week of March, according to Fast Company, according to the Daily Mail.
Macy’s said employees impacted by the closures will be offered transfer opportunities where possible, along with severance and transition support.
“We thank all those colleagues for their dedication and service to the company,” Spring said.
Despite the company’s optimistic language, shoppers in several communities reacted with frustration and sadness, warning that the closures could be fatal for local malls.
Customers at the Tarentum, Pennsylvania, store said its loss would likely be “the stake in the heart” for Pittsburgh Mills Mall, which has struggled for years.
In Livingston, New Jersey, shoppers said Macy’s was the last true anchor keeping the mall alive, raising fears that the entire property could soon shutter.
Online commenters described some of the closing locations as “depressing” and largely empty, reflecting broader challenges facing traditional department stores.
Macy’s executives argue the strategy is already paying off. In December, the company said it expects to remain profitable after posting an $11 million profit in 2025, a rare bright spot after years of declining sales.
Retail analysts have called the turnaround one of the most notable in the industry, citing cleaner stores, better staffing, and more focused merchandise.
Neil Saunders of GlobalData said the “sloppy execution” that once plagued the chain has largely disappeared in its remaining locations.
Spring, who took over as CEO in March 2024, said difficult decisions are unavoidable but necessary to keep the company moving forward.
