Kirkland’s joins the growing list of retailers closing stores. However, the firm also does expect to open 15 to 20 stores in the third and fourth quarters.
Home accessories retailer Kirkland’s Inc said it expects to close about 35 to 40 stores in fiscal 2009, according to a regulatory filing.
“While the plan for fiscal 2009 represents a further reduction in the store base, we expect the store count to reach a bottom by the end of the year,” the company said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Half of the closings for fiscal 2009, which ends Jan. 30 2010, are expected during the first half of the year, and rest after the holiday season, said Kirkland’s.
Bankruptcies and Liquidations:
- Jan. 7, Goody’s liquidates, closing 287 stores
- Jan. 8, Against All Odds files for bankruptcy protection, operates 64 stores overall, plans to close West Coast stores
- Jan. 13, Shane Co. files for bankruptcy, operates 23 stores
- Jan. 14, Gottschalks files for bankruptcy, operates 58 stores, Update: March 31, Gottschalks will liquidate
- Jan. 16, Circuit City to Liquidate, closing 567 stores
- Feb. 6, Fortunoff, operates 20 stores
- Feb. 6, Bruno’s, operates 66 stores
- Feb. 12, S&K Famous Brands, operates 136 stores; Update: Feb. 19, plans to close 30.
- Feb. 17, Innovation Luggage, operates 10 stores
- Feb. 23, Ritz Camera, operates about 1,000 stores; Update, April 6, closing 300 camera stores and 120 Boater’s World stores
- March 6, Joe’s Sports & Outdoor, operates 30 stores
- March 25, Bi-Lo, operates 215 stores
- April 13, Z Gallerie, operates 56 stores
- April 13, Ultra Stores, operates 181 stores
Potential Bankruptcies & Liquidation Impact: 1,362 confirmed closures out of about 2,713 stores
Announced Closings
- Jan. 8, New York & Co., 50 stores
- Jan. 8, Macy’s, 11 stores
- Jan. 9, Supervalu, 50 stores
- Jan. 13, Cost Plus, 26 stores
- Jan. 20, Yankee Candle, 28 Illuminations stores
- Jan. 21, Filene’s Basement, 11 stores
- Jan. 22, Phillips-Van Heusen, 175 stores
- Jan 22, Brown Shoe, up to 35 Famous Footwear stores
- Jan. 26, Home Depot, 48 stores
- Jan. 29, Starbucks, 200 U.S. Stores (plus 100 international)
- Jan. 29, Chico’s, up to 25 stores
- Feb. 9, Talbots, 20 stores
- Feb. 24, Jimmy’Z, 11 stores
- Feb. 24, Z. Gallerie, 25 stores
- Feb. 25, Zale Corp., 115 stores
- Feb. 26, Gap, 50 net closings
- Feb. 27, Sears, 44 stores
- March 3, Virgin Megastores, 6 stores
- March 6, Ann Taylor, 37 stores in 2009, 163 total by end of 2010
- March 18, Drug Fair, 11 stores
- March 23, Pier 1, 80 stores
- April 3, Rite Aid, 117 stores
- April 21, Kirkland’s, up to 40 stores
Total Closings: up to 1,215 U.S. stores
Potential Impact of All Announcements to Date: 2,577 closures out of up to 3,928 potentially affected U.S. stores

