Closing Time: 5 Major Retail Chains Closing Doors in Vermont in 2026

Here are 5 major retail chains that are closing doors or exiting the Vermont market this year.

1. Rite Aid (Total Market Exit)

The most impactful change for Vermont residents in 2026 is the complete departure of Rite Aid. Following its prolonged bankruptcy and restructuring, the chain has moved to exit the Vermont market entirely to satisfy creditors.

• The Vermont Impact: All five of the chain’s remaining Vermont locations—Brattleboro, Bethel, Randolph, Springfield, and Windsor—are shuttering in early 2026. This is particularly devastating for rural towns like Bethel and Windsor, which are now facing "pharmacy deserts" with no immediate local alternatives for prescriptions.

2. Orvis (Strategic Downsizing)

In a move that hits close to home, the Vermont-based outdoor giant Orvis is undergoing a massive national contraction. Headquartered in Manchester, VT, the brand is shuttering a large portion of its retail footprint to focus on wholesale and digital growth.

• The Vermont Impact: While the flagship destination in Manchester remains a protected tourist staple, Orvis is closing approximately 36 retail locations nationwide by early 2026. This shift reflects a broader trend of Vermont-born brands pulling back from expensive brick-and-mortar operations to preserve their core fly-fishing and heritage business.

3. Walgreens

With Rite Aid gone, Walgreens remains a dominant player, but it isn't expanding. Instead, it is entering the final stage of its plan to close 1,200 stores nationwide. After several high-profile closures in 2025, more underperforming Vermont locations are on the chopping block.

• The Vermont Impact: Following the recent loss of pharmacies in Burlington, Newport, and Montpelier, the chain is reviewing expiring leases in 2026. Many residents in the Northeast Kingdom are watching closely as the company targets stores that fail to meet strict new profitability metrics.

4. Family Dollar

The discount retailer, owned by Dollar Tree Inc., is continuing its aggressive strategy of closing 1,000 stores as leases expire. In Vermont, these stores often serve as the primary "general store" for rural communities where grocery options are limited.

• The Vermont Impact: Locations in rural corridors are being quietly shuttered throughout 2026. While the company has not released a master list, stores in smaller municipalities with lower foot traffic are the primary targets for closure as the parent company pivots toward its more profitable Dollar Tree brand.

5. Big Lots

After a tumultuous bankruptcy filing that began in late 2024, the discount home goods retailer is concluding its liquidation of underperforming assets. The chain has been selling off leases in waves, and the remaining Vermont presence is under immediate threat.

• The Vermont Impact: The Berlin location (712 US-302) has been a focal point of closure news. As 2026 progresses, any remaining Big Lots inventory in the state is expected to be liquidated as the company consolidates what is left of its national footprint into a much smaller, primarily Midwestern operation.

The Church Street Shift (Burlington)

It isn't just the national chains feeling the squeeze. Burlington’s iconic Church Street Marketplace is also seeing a 2026 "reset." Long-standing independent staples, such as the footwear boutique Dear Lucy, have announced closures this year, citing changing shopping habits and a decline in downtown revenue. This signals a broader transition for the state's busiest pedestrian mall as it looks for new types of "experience-based" tenants to fill the void.

What’s Next?

As these staples depart, Vermont's "pharmacy desert" crisis has become a top priority for state legislators in 2026. Many communities are hoping that independent pharmacists or regional players like Kinney Drugs will step in to fill the gaps left by the national giants.