13 Companies That Are Closing Locations In California This Year

2023 and 2024 have been notable for the fact that, across the country, many companies have made the decision to cut their losses and close locations. The reasons for these closures are myriad, including loss of profitability and fear of theft. California is facing a particularly notable wave of these closures, and thirteen companies will be closing down more locations in the Golden State in 2024.

1. Walmart

Retail giants are not immune to economic downturn, and juggernaut Walmart is no exception. In 2023, the corporation announced as many as 23 store closures in various locations, citing lack of business and economic instability as the reason.

It appears that the pattern is continuing into 2024. Reports of high theft in stores like Walmart across the Golden State have made retailers uneasy, and corporate has announced the closing of 2 locations in the San Diego are during 2024.

2. Macy’s

Macy’s is a well-established American department store chain, first established in 1858. It’s been the subject of a great deal of good publicity through various holiday and promotional campaigns, including the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that takes place every year in New York City.

However, despite its longevity, Macy’s is no exception to economic hardship. Early in February this year, corporate headquarters announced a plan to downsize the company, closing five stores and laying off more than 2300 employees. Two California locations will be affected, the San Leandro and Simi Valley locations. These layoffs follow on the heel of a Los Angeles location closing in 2023.

3. Denny’s

The restaurant, which has been made famous by the slogan “America’s Diner,” is famous for its 24/7 hours and its inexpensive prices. It’s the place where you go in the middle of the night when you want a bite to eat and just can’t sleep, or when you’re up late studying for a midterm in college.

The company recently closed a location in Oakland, California that had been open for 54 years. A statement was released by the company stating that the decision was weighed against the safety and prosperity of its employees, and that it was ultimately a difficult choice that had to be made.

4. Rite Aid

Rite Aid has been closing locations all across the country for the past several years. The pharmacy giant even pulled completely out of individual states such as Nevada, ahead of filing for bankruptcy in October of 2023.

The bankruptcy claim makes the company’s announcement of more closures entirely predictable. The chain announced that they would be closing 150 stores after filing bankruptcy, and in California alone, the projected number of closures for 2024 was 38 stores.

5. CVS

The announcement of CVS closing stores came in November of 2021, when the retail and pharmacy chain announced that they would be closing more than 900 individual locations across the country over three years.

The choice to close this many locations was part of a company decision that was made to shift towards prioritizing healthcare services, rather than retail services at their locations. Adding to the grand total of stores that are closing across America, CVS Health announced plans to close 25 Southern California MinuteClinic locations in 2024.

6. Adidas

Adidas is a widely popular athletic and footwear retailer that has managed to remain profitable despite its niche audience. It’s marketed along the likes of Nike and Reebok, and as of January 13 of this year, formally shuttered the doors of its only location in San Francisco.

The location in question was located in the San Francisco Centre mall, where multiple other companies have also seen location closures. This is blamed on a lack of foot traffic and tourism to the area, which has declined some over the past several years.

7. In and Out

The company that began in California and is known for both its positive work environment, high wages, and delicious and simple menu, has announced the closing of a location for the first time in its 76 years in business.

The location in question is in Oakland, California, located near the Oakland International Airport. The store will close its doors in March, after 18 years of business. The reasoning behind the closure was stated to be an increase of crime in the area, and prioritizing the safety and well-being of customers and workers alike.

8. Foot Locker

Foot Locker is a company that is known for its focus in providing customers with the latest sneaker releases, as well as the most sought-after releases. Its affordable prices make it an appealing option for people who want to be stylish but financially responsible, and it has garnered a significant positive reputation for its business operations.

Despite the positive attitude that many consumers have towards Foot Locker, the company announced more than 400 locations would be closing across the country, from now through 2025. Though they haven’t specified which locations will be closing, it’s a reasonable expectation that some of them will be in California.

9. Walgreens

Since the store’s first location opened in 1901, Walgreens has been a go-to for many people for various retail, pharmaceutical, and health and wellness products. The convenience of Walgreens has fostered its expansion across the country, allowing it to compete with retail giants such as Wal-Mart.

Economic uncertainty has hit the company, though, and last June, it was announced that 150 Walgreens locations would be closing across the country. One of the locations that will be closing its doors is located in downtown San Francisco, and will be closing its doors in February of this year. The rest of the scheduled closures will take place by Fall of this year.

10. Madewell

Madewell is an old fashion company that first opened its doors in 1937, offering workwear for everyday Americans in a time where many people were working in factories. The company started closing factory locations in the 90’s, and by 2006 the company was bought by J. Crew and rebranded for younger, hip women.

Madewell has seen several location closures over the last several years, but the most recent one in California is a location that was located in the San Francisco Centre Mall.

11. Hollister

Hollister is a retail brand owned by the parent company of Abercrombie and Fitch, which was started in the early 2000’s. Hollister markets to both men and women of all ages, and has sold its clothing as both trendy and affordable since its inception in the early 2000’s.

Like Madewell, the location closure in California this year stems from a lack of traffic to the San Francisco Centre Mall, and it doesn’t appear that the location closures in the mall are going to stop anytime soon.

12. J. Crew

J. Crew markets to men, women, and children of all ages, and sells multiple brands and lines across its various retail locations. J. Crew operates both in the online space and in various physical locations, and at the height of its success, had more than 450 locations scattered across the United States.

Due to economic struggles, J. Crew applied for bankruptcy protections during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and since has announced multiple closures of locations to consolidate their assets. The most recent closure in California is the location operating out of the San Francisco Centre Mall.

13. Aldo

Aldo is a Canadian multinational corporation that was founded in the 70’s, and owns and operates a variety of shoe and retail outlets across the world. The company is vast, with nearly 3000 locations operating across 100 different countries.

The success of the company is not immune to individual locations performing poorly, though, and the closure of the San Francisco Centre Mall location is no surprise. The mall currently has 25% capacity filled for its available spaces, and it remains to be seen whether the mall will be able to bounce back as a retail hub in the San Francisco area.