Kohl's Store Closings Spree Hits 27 Sites as Revenue Continues to Dive — But 90% Are Still Open

Retail giant Kohl's is facing a pivotal moment as declining sales and a fresh wave of store closures across the US spark questions over the brand's future.

While dozens of locations have already been axed to 'stabilise' the business, the company's leadership has now broken their silence on whether more sites will be shut down this year. As revenue continues to slide, the fate of the remaining shops hangs in the balance on a high-stakes turnaround plan aimed at saving the high-street staple.

Kohl's bosses confirmed during a recent earnings call that there are no current plans for further mass shop closures in 2026.

'I would not anticipate any sort of grand plan of saying we're taking stores out or adding stores at this point,' said Kohl's CEO Michael Bender. The update marks a shift for the retailer, which spent the last year axing a string of struggling sites to help stabilise the business.

The Turning Point

Kohl's remains a household name across the US, yet the chain has been forced to overhaul its physical footprint following a series of shop shutdowns throughout 2025. This pivot appears to be paying off, as the retailer's decision to halt further closures for 2026 signals a more resilient forecast for the remaining locations.

The Roadmap for 2026

Bender confirmed that the retailer is avoiding both mass shop shutdowns and major expansions this year, shifting the focus toward boosting the productivity of current sites instead of further reducing the chain's size.

'The focus for us is actually on optimising what we already have and we'll be focused on making sure that we continue to push the stores' productivity going forward,' the top executive added.

With a national network of more than 1,100 shops, the retailer's top brass confirmed that the vast majority—well over 90 per cent—remain in the black. Rather than further shrinking its presence, the chain is now betting on a recovery plan that prioritises better shop performance and more competitive deals for its customers.

The 2025 Shutdown Toll

The retailer may have ruled out further shop closures for 2026, yet the previous year saw a string of 27 struggling sites axed across various regions.

The previous shutdowns were triggered by a slump in revenue, forcing a series of budget cuts and structural changes. Now that these sites have been axed, the chain's top brass suggests the remaining shops are on much firmer financial ground.

The 2026 Outlook

Following this month's financial update, the retailer revealed a boost in profits and cash reserves throughout 2025, even as its total revenue remained under strain. In the final quarter alone, net sales dipped by roughly 3.9 per cent, while takings at existing shops slipped by 2.8 percent.

While no fresh cull of shops is on the cards for 2026, bosses confirmed that they will keep a close eye on individual site results each year.

'We are ending 2025 in a stronger position than we started, with important work still ahead of us,' Bender said. 'Over the past year, our efforts have been focused on resetting our foundation. This focus is intended to stabilize the business and strengthen our operational ability to build for a stronger future.'