Macy’s is shutting down 14 more stores this year, pushing the department-store chain closer to its target of eliminating roughly 150 locations over three years. The closures are part of a broader restructuring that concentrates investment in approximately 350 remaining stores through fiscal year 2026. With the company reporting that its fiscal year 2025 results exceeded guidance and that it returned to annual comparable sales growth, the question now is whether those gains in the surviving fleet will be strong enough to keep the remaining closures on schedule rather than accelerating them.
Why the next 136 closures hinge on same-store performance
The 14 stores set to close this year represent the latest tranche of a plan Macy’s has been executing since it announced its new turnaround strategy. That plan pairs store eliminations with focused capital spending on the roughly 350 locations the company considers viable long-term performers. The logic is straightforward: shedding underperforming square footage frees cash to improve the stores that generate the most revenue per visit.
The tension sits in the math. If the retained 350 stores do not deliver consistent comparable-sales growth, the financial case for keeping them open weakens. Macy’s disclosed that it returned to annual comparable sales growth and that fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 results beat its own guidance, according to its latest investor update. That is an encouraging signal, but a single year of positive comps does not guarantee the trajectory will hold through fiscal 2026, the deadline for the full restructuring.
Shoppers at affected locations face a direct, practical impact. Store closures typically mean longer drives to the next Macy’s, shifts to online ordering, and the loss of local retail jobs. For communities that still rely on anchor department stores to draw foot traffic to surrounding businesses, each closure removes a commercial magnet that smaller retailers depend on. How quickly the remaining stores can grow sales will help determine whether Macy’s can pause the downsizing at its stated 350-store goal or is forced to consider deeper cuts.
What the confirmed closure plan includes
Macy’s has laid out the current wave of shutdowns in a dedicated closure announcement, specifying 14 locations scheduled to go dark this year. Those stores span a mix of traditional mall anchors and smaller-format sites that no longer meet the company’s performance or profitability thresholds. The announcement reiterates that these closures are part of the previously disclosed goal to exit roughly 150 underperforming stores over three years, a process that began before fiscal 2025 and is slated to run through fiscal 2026.
Beyond the headline number, the plan involves a sequencing of exits designed to limit operational disruption. Macy’s has been timing closures to follow major shopping periods, winding down inventory through clearance events before handing properties back to landlords or exploring redevelopment options. The company has said that its focus is on pruning locations with persistently weak traffic or high occupancy costs, while preserving stores that still serve as regional hubs for omnichannel services such as in-store pickup, returns, and same-day delivery staging.
For customers, the company has published a closure FAQ that outlines key details such as last day of business, how gift cards and rewards can be used, and which nearby stores will remain open. Macy’s emphasizes that customers can continue to shop online and use digital services even after a local store closes, but the practical reality for many shoppers will be fewer opportunities for in-person browsing and service.
How Macy’s is trying to strengthen the remaining fleet
At the same time it is shrinking its footprint, Macy’s is channeling more investment into the roughly 350 stores it plans to keep. That includes store remodels, expanded assortments in categories that have shown resilience, and improvements to in-store technology to support faster checkout and better integration with the company’s website and app. By concentrating capital on a smaller base, Macy’s aims to lift sales per square foot and improve the overall customer experience.
The company’s recent return to positive comparable sales gives management more room to execute this playbook. Stronger performance from the remaining stores can help offset revenue lost from closures, ease pressure on margins, and support the balance sheet as Macy’s funds remodels and digital upgrades. If those metrics continue to trend upward, the company has a better chance of holding the line at its current closure target rather than being pushed into another round of cuts.
Still, the path ahead is uncertain. Department stores continue to face intense competition from off-price chains, specialty retailers, and e-commerce platforms, and consumer spending patterns remain sensitive to broader economic conditions. Macy’s has set out a clear timetable and store-count goal, but whether it can stop shrinking at 350 locations will depend on how well the remaining stores perform over the next two years. For employees, landlords, and communities watching the latest 14 closures unfold, the performance of that core fleet will be the clearest signal of what comes next.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
