Closing Time: 6 Major Retail Chains Closing Doors in Massachusetts in 2026

Here are 6 major retail chains that are closing doors in Massachusetts this year.

1. REI Co-op (Boston Flagship)

In a major blow to the city’s outdoor community, REI is shuttering its high-profile flagship in the Fenway neighborhood. The co-op is adjusting its strategy to move away from high-rent urban centers that have seen declining foot traffic.

• The Massachusetts Impact: The REI Boston location at 401 Park Drive is confirmed to close in late 2026. This was the brand’s only location within Boston proper. While suburban locations like those in Reading, Framingham, and Hingham currently remain open, the loss of the Fenway anchor marks a significant shift for the city’s retail core.

2. Eddie Bauer

The outdoor apparel giant is facing a total North American retreat following a bankruptcy filing by its parent operating group, Catalyst Brands. The brand is expected to shutter all physical storefronts as it moves toward a strictly online or wholesale model.

• The Massachusetts Impact: All four remaining Massachusetts locations are slated for closure in early 2026. This includes stores at the Lee Premium Outlets, as well as locations in Burlington, Lynnfield, and Wrentham.

3. Walgreens

Walgreens is entering the final and most aggressive phase of its 1,200-store reduction plan. After a string of closures in 2025, the pharmacy giant is continuing to prune "underproductive" locations that struggle with low reimbursement rates and theft concerns.

• The Massachusetts Impact: Following recent closures in Boston (Gallivan Blvd), Cambridge, and Worcester, more neighborhood pharmacies across the state are expected to go dark as leases expire in 2026. Residents in the Merrimack Valley and South Shore are seeing particularly high consolidation as the chain shifts customers toward its larger, modernized hubs.

4. Stop & Shop

The state’s largest grocery chain is continuing its strategy of closing underperforming stores to free up capital for lower prices and remodeling at its remaining "go-forward" locations.

• The Massachusetts Impact: After closing eight major locations last fall (including Brockton, Raynham, and Shrewsbury), the chain is reviewing additional leases in 2026. Communities in Springfield and Worcester that lost secondary locations are now seeing those properties transition into new developments or independent grocers.

5. Yankee Candle

Despite its deep Massachusetts roots, the iconic candle company is reducing its physical footprint as parent company Newell Brands slashes overhead.

• The Massachusetts Impact: About 20 stores are being shuttered nationwide in early 2026, with Massachusetts locations among those being reviewed. While the "Flagship" destination in South Deerfield remains a top tourist priority, smaller mall-based stores in locations like Natick, Peabody, and Braintree are facing increased scrutiny.

6. TD Bank (Branch Consolidation)

While not a traditional retailer, the banking giant is treating its physical branches like retail storefronts, closing dozens of locations along the East Coast to pivot toward digital banking services.

• The Massachusetts Impact: TD Bank has confirmed several branch closures for early 2026, including locations in Beverly, Chicopee, Centerville, Lowell, and Peabody. Most of these closures are scheduled to be finalized by the end of January 2026.

Retail Reinvention: The 2026 Outlook

The "Great Realignment" of 2026 is seeing Massachusetts malls pivot faster than ever. Properties like the Northshore Mall and Natick Mall are increasingly filling large gaps left by retailers with "experiential" tenants, such as indoor pickleball courts, luxury fitness centers, and medical suites.