Will Montana See More Store Closures Soon?

I feel like every time you look at the news these days, another retailer is closing for good, or they are boarding up some of their locations. If you're feeling the same way, you're not wrong.

According to Forbes, it is expected that retailers will close up to 15,000 stores in 2025. That is more than double the 7,325 closures in 2024. What is even more shocking is that it breaks the record set during the pandemic in 2020.

"To date, retailers have announced over 2,000 closures, with bankrupt Party City (738 closing) and Big Lots (601) leading the field, followed by Walgreens Boots Alliance (333), 7-Eleven (148), Macy's (51) and Kohl's (27)." - Forbes.

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Montana has seen its fair share of closures lately, with Joann stores being the latest to shut their doors. And with the year still ahead, there's a chance more could be down the road.

Walmart recently announced that it will be shutting down 11 of its stores. Yes, even this big-box giant, which operates over 4,000 locations, is feeling the pressure and making cuts.

Struggles with the economy and competition from retailers like Amazon seem to be the culprits behind the underperformance, forcing Walmart to close underperforming stores across the country.

Here is the full list of Walmart Store Closures in 2025:

• Dunwoody, Georgia (Ashford Dunwoody Road).
• Marietta, Georgia (Walmart Neighbourhood Market on Roswell Road).
• Towson, Maryland (1238 Putty Hill Ave.).
• Columbus, Ohio (3579 S. High St.).
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin (7025 W. Main St.).
• Aurora, Colorado (10400 E Colfax Ave.).
• San Diego, California (2121 Imperial Avenue).
• El Cajon, California (605 Fletcher Parkway).
• West Covina, California (2753 E. Eastland Center Dr.).
• Fremont, California (40580 Albrae Street).
• Granite Bay, California (4080 Douglas Boulevard).

As you may have noticed, Montana's Walmart locations have been spared—for now.

While a store closure might not seem like a big deal to most, for those in rural areas where Walmart is the primary retailer, it can have a significant impact on the community. Last year, Walmart closed a similar number of stores—51 in total—while also downsizing its grocery chain. So, while there's no need to panic, it will be interesting to see what other closures might come in 2025.

Credit: TheMirror