WEST VIRGINIA - The "retail winter" has arrived in the Mountain State. While national headlines focus on big-box bankruptcies, West Virginia is facing a unique and difficult set of closures in February 2026. The impact is hitting rural communities particularly hard, with essential pharmacies and general stores exiting towns where they often serve as the only retail option.
From a massive pharmacy retreat in the coalfields to the final days of a discount furniture staple in the Northern Panhandle, here are the major chains shrinking their West Virginia footprint this month.
1. Walgreens
The Headline: A healthcare crisis for small-town West Virginia.
Walgreens is currently executing a plan to close roughly 1,200 stores nationwide, and West Virginia is bearing the brunt of these cuts in February. The company is targeting locations that are not profitable enough to sustain rising labor and operational costs, leaving several communities with significantly longer drives to fill prescriptions.
- Affected Communities: Confirmed closures have targeted smaller towns, including Follansbee, Clendenin, New Martinsville, Mullens, Oceana, and Whitesville.
- The Impact: In towns like Mullens and Oceana, the loss of a local pharmacy is a critical blow to healthcare access. Residents are being forced to transfer prescriptions to competitors or travel to larger hubs, creating "pharmacy deserts" in parts of the state that can least afford them.
2. Big Lots
The Headline: The Northern Panhandle loses a furniture destination.
Following its bankruptcy restructuring, Big Lots is continuing to shed locations across the region. While many stores have been under review, the Moundsville location appears to be the latest casualty in the state.
- The Location: The store at 1230 Lafayette Avenue in Moundsville has been flagged for lease termination/closure as part of the company's asset sale strategy.
- The Vibe: In the Northern Panhandle, Big Lots has been a primary destination for affordable furniture and pantry staples. Shoppers can expect aggressive "Everything Must Go" sales in February as the retailer attempts to clear the building.
- Watch List: Real estate listings indicate that leases for locations in Parkersburg and Beckley are also under active review, keeping these stores on the "watch list" for potential spring closures.
3. Family Dollar
The Headline: The "General Store" exits the mountains.
Parent company Dollar Tree is in the middle of closing nearly 1,000 Family Dollar stores nationwide, specifically targeting locations where inflation and shipping costs have eroded profits. In West Virginia, where Family Dollar often functions as a town's primary grocery and general store, these exits are deeply felt.
- Confirmed Activity: The location in Elkins is in the midst of its final liquidation, drawing large crowds seeking deep discounts before the doors lock for good.
- The Reality: As the company finalizes its lease expirations this month, other underperforming locations in rural counties are at risk of sudden closure notices.
4. Advance Auto Parts
The Headline: Shifting gears in Charleston and Huntington.
Advance Auto Parts is pumping the brakes harder than almost any other retailer this year. The company has announced a massive restructuring plan to shutter over 700 locations nationwide to stabilize its finances, and West Virginia is seeing a quiet consolidation.
- The Strategy: The company is pivoting away from the "DIY" retail model to focus on its "Pro" business (selling directly to mechanics).
- The Impact: This means smaller, redundant stores in the Charleston and Huntington metro areas are being consolidated into larger "Hub" locations. Expect to see smaller neighborhood locations go dark this month, directing customers to the main store in town.
5. Charleston Town Center (The Mall Itself)
The Headline: The end of the mall as we know it.
While not a single "store closure," the biggest retail story in the state for February 2026 is the fate of the Charleston Town Center.
- The Status: With the departure of major anchors in previous years, the City of Charleston is actively moving forward with plans to acquire the property for redevelopment.
- The Future: This likely spells the end of the Town Center as a traditional shopping mall. In 2026, the conversation has shifted from "saving the mall" to transforming it into a mixed-use sports and entertainment complex. Remaining inline tenants are operating on borrowed time as this transition formalizes.
February 2026 presents a harsh reality for West Virginia's retail landscape, defined by the erosion of essential services in rural areas. The widespread retreat of Walgreens from towns like Mullens and Oceana creates immediate challenges to healthcare access. At the same time, Family Dollar's exit from communities like Elkins removes a vital source of everyday goods. Combined with the bankruptcy-driven closures of Big Lots in the Northern Panhandle and the consolidation of Advance Auto Parts in the major metros, the state is seeing a significant reduction in brick-and-mortar options. Even the State capital is not immune, as Charleston Town Center moves closer to redevelopment, signaling the end of the traditional mall era in the region.
