Discount-focused retailers push 2026 US store expansion, even as closures ease
Coresight Research forecasts about 5,500 US store openings and 7,900 closures for 2026, a 4.5% drop in closures from 2025 and the lowest in three years. Dollar General, Aldi, and Tractor Supply lead openings (Aldi expects 180+ new stores), while GameStop, Francesca’s and Walgreens sit atop the closures list; Amazon plans to convert Fresh/Go locations to Whole Foods. The trend highlights a shift toward value retailers and tighter real estate supply, amid some bankruptcies like Saks Global and LKM Convenience.