Retail Watch: The Latest Store Closings Every Shopper Should Know

Ann Taylor will close 117 "underperforming stores" over the 2008-2010 period. The company will close 25 Ann Taylor stores in 2008 (with an additional 14 stores scheduled to close in 2009-2010) and 39 LOFT stores in 2008 (with 39 additional stores in 2009-2010).

Women's retailer, Cache, has announced 14 of its stores will close shop, 3 of which have already been shut down.

Charming Shoppes, Inc., owner of Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherine's Plus Sizes, and Lane Bryant Outlet, announced it will shutter approximately 150 stores and discontinue further development of its Petite Sophisticate retail stores.

Dell, Inc. announced it will discontinue its retail outlets and close 140 kiosks nationwide.

Dillard's, Inc. closed a distribution center and three stores in Kentucky, Virginia, and Colorado.

Disney has announced plans to shut down 98 of its Disney Store locations.

Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. plans to consolidate 12 of its retail design centers and 2 service centers.

Foot Locker, Inc. plans to close approximately 140 stores in 2008.

Gap, Inc. expects to close 85 store locations this year, many of which are weighted toward the Gap brand.

Home Depot will close 15 underperforming stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Last year, Levitz Furniture closed all of its stores and went out of business.

Linens 'n Things (PDF Link) has declared Chapter 11 and will close up to 120 stores. A full list of store closings can be found here.

Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon has closed 27 restaurants, including 7 of its 8 Florida restaurants.

Department store Macy's is boarding up 9 stores in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.

Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. announced its plans to close its remaining 154 demo stores.

Pep Boys has shuttered 31 stores including 6 in Texas, 3 in Georgia, and 3 in California.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. closed 79 stores in the final quarter of 2007.

Starbucks Corp. will shutter 600 nationwide coffee houses this year. In addition, it will open fewer than 200 stores in 2009.

The Talbots, Inc., will close 66 Talbots Kids stores and 12 Talbots Mens stores by September.

Wickes Furniture, Inc. has declared bankruptcy and closed business in all locations.

The United States' largest jewelry chain, Zales Corp., expects to close a total of 105 stores in 2008 in an effort to save approximately $65 million annually.