Business & Tech

Which Stores are Shutting Doors in 2013?

Retail analysts try to predict which stores, including some with nearby locations, will be smaller or completely gone by next year.

It's hard to know when time is up—just ask the Mayans—but some retail analysts are starting the final countdown on a number of well-known, if not well-patronized, businesses.

Blockbuster, Sears and Abercrombie & Fitch are just a few of the businesses analysts are worried about, according to a recent Forbes report:

"[Sears CEO Eddie Lampert] publicly insists he’s committed to improving operations—the company has slashed inventory and spent money to equip sales people with iPads to help them provide quicker service to customers. But some analysts believe that slicing up the company and selling off assets is inevitable. [Howard] Davidowitz figures it’s just a matter of time before Sears goes away as an operating company, with its stronger brands like Craftsman and Kenmore getting gobbled up by competitors.

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The report also eyes Payless as a shrinking company, and Macy's, Inc. recently announced a series of planned closures of Macy's and Bloomingdale's locations, including one in California.

See the Forbes article for the rest of the stores on analysts' watchlists.

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What stores do you expect to fade away soon? Which ones would you be sad to see go?


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