The U.S. retailers planning the most store openings in 2026
Remember when everyone thought physical retail was dying? Turns out the story was a little more complicated.
U.S. retailers are actually preparing to open thousands of new stores in 2026, even as some familiar chains continue closing locations. The companies leading the charge aren’t luxury brands or mall brands. They’re discount chains and value retailers. And they’re expanding fast. We’re looking at over 5,000 stores.
Discount chains are leading the most store openings this year
According to research from Coresight Research, U.S. retailers are expected to open about 5,500 new stores in 2026, a 4.4% increase from the year before. At the same time, store closures are projected to fall to around 7,900 locations. That would mark the lowest number of closures in three years.
Top on the list of retailers planning the most new locations this year is Dollar General. The chain is planning to open 483 more stores in the U.S. It’s followed (not closely) by Aldi and Tractor Supply, with a plan for 168 and 100 new stores, respectively.
Other retailers planning expansion include Target, 7-Eleven, Pop Mart, Dollar Tree, Yankee Candle, and Barnes & Noble.
Most of these brands focus on everyday essentials and value pricing. Amid the inflation crisis, these are categories that continue to attract shoppers.
Still, some chains are shrinking their store footprints
The cheer did not make it everywhere. While discount chains expand, some retailers are doing the opposite, with companies like GameStop, Walgreens, and Francesca’s planning the most closures this year.
Francesca’s is shutting down a jaw-dropping number of nearly 460 stores as the company liquidates its business following bankruptcy. And continuing a long run of downsizing tied to the shift toward digital game downloads, GameStop is closing hundreds of locations.
We also have big Amazon closing Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations. Some of those sites have a future awaiting them in Whole Foods stores.
The retail closure wave is slowing after some turbulence
Store shutdowns have been gradually declining since the pandemic-era peak. Last year, the final tally reached 8,270 store closures, down from 8,825 in 2024 and well below the roughly 9,700 closures recorded in 2020.
According to retail experts, physical stores remain important even as online shopping and AI-powered product searches grow. With them, there is an extra appeal with the offer of immediate access to products and easy pickup and returns. Brands can also connect with customers more easily.
As John Mercer, head of global research of Coresight, pointed out, online tools may help shoppers compare prices, but stores still help brands stand out and build loyalty.
That explains why we now have retailers competing for space even as real estate becomes tighter.
