The rapid rise of online shopping has dramatically changed consumer behavior, making services more convenient and accessible to shoppers than ever before. As e-commerce continues to expand, traditional retail stores are slowly disappearing, getting closer to a future where physical stores are less important.
Economic uncertainty will only accelerate this shift. Cautious consumer spending has led to weak sales and reduced foot traffic at many retail chains, even forcing long-established brands to close stores as they adjust operations to better meet consumer demand.
Now, another iconic retailer is preparing to permanently close a key location, leaving the entire state without a brick-and-mortar storefront.
Lands’ End was founded in Chicago in 1963 as a mail-order watch supply company and by 1978 grew into a retailer of apparel, swimwear, outerwear, accessories, footwear, home furnishings and uniforms. Today, the company operates approximately 26 stores nationwide and sells through its e-commerce platform as well as through multiple third-party distributors.
Lands’ End (LE) will close its store at Christiana Fashion Center at 3168 Fashion Center Blvd. January 24, 2026, Newark, Delaware. The closure will end the retailer’s physical footprint in the state, with the nearest state of Pennsylvania more than an hour away.
According to Delaware Online, in order to clear out remaining inventory, the company will launch a clearance sale with 50% off all items, and an additional 60% off outerwear.
Delaware isn’t the only market losing local Lands’ End stores. The retailer has quietly closed several stores in 2025 and has plans to close again in 2026.
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Preston Ridge Center, Frisco, Texas: Closing in October 2025 due to financial performance issues (source:Dallas Morning News)
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Capitol Square, Rockville, MD: Due to the company’s inability to reach a new lease agreement, it will close in January 2026 (source:store reporter)
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Christina Fashion Center in Newark, DE: Will close in January 2026; no specific reason was disclosed (source:Delaware Online)
Lands’ End quietly closing stores across U.S.Shutterstock
On March 7, 2025, Lands’ End disclosed that its board of directors had initiated a review of strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, merger or similar transaction, as disclosed in its Form 8-K for the second quarter of 2025. This process is still ongoing.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Authentic Brands Global and WHP Global had submitted bids to acquire the company, according to Reuters. Lands’ End has not publicly confirmed the bidder.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Lands’ End’s largest shareholder Edward Lampert put pressure on the board of directors to sell the company in February 2025.
Lampert, who controls about 55% of the company, has also said he would seek a buyer for his stake if the board refuses to sell the business outright.
At the same time, sales were down in some areas of Lands’ End’s business. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, net revenue fell 0.3% year-on-year to $317.5 million, with U.S. e-commerce sales falling 3.4%.
More retail store closures:
The recent store closings appear to be part of a broader effort to streamline operations and eliminate underperforming stores, allowing the company to focus on more profitable distribution channels, particularly digital sales, which account for the bulk of its revenue.
“Traffic in our U.S. consumer business grew 25%, driven by digital channels, social and search, and U.S. e-commerce site visits hit an all-time high in the third quarter, which is a very positive indicator heading into the holiday season,” Lands’ End CEO Andrew McLean said on the earnings call.
In its full-year results for fiscal 2024, Lands’ End said it plans to prioritize its digital business and operations, continue to leverage its asset-light licensing model and expand its market-leading Outfitters division.
Online shopping continues to dominate U.S. retail. According to Capital One Shopping, 84.3% of Americans shop online, and U.S. e-commerce spending will reach $1.34 trillion in 2024 and is expected to exceed $2.5 trillion in 2030.
In 2024, U.S. online sales accounted for 22.3% of global e-commerce spending, an increase of nearly 1.5% from the previous year, and are expected to reach US$1.47 trillion in 2025.
Despite these achievements, brick-and-mortar stores still play a vital role for retailers seeking to create unique in-person shopping experiences.
“Stores are valuable assets,” Jon Copestake, EY global consumer senior analyst, told CX Dive. “If you’re thinking about cutting back or eliminating your store footprint because of things like the rise of online shopping and the rise of AI-powered buying, you might be missing an important trick.”
Still, as retailers like Lands’ End reduce brick-and-mortar stores to bolster profitability, even small closures could have significant consequences.
Mohamed Dabo, financial reporter at Retail Insights Network, said: “Wide store closures could reduce convenience for shoppers, especially in smaller towns. In the United States, the loss of location could even create ‘retail deserts’ where daily shopping requires traveling up to 20 miles.”
The impact of these closures goes beyond convenience. According to the National Retail Federation, the retail industry is the largest private sector employer in the United States, contributing $5.3 trillion to GDP annually and supporting more than a quarter of U.S. jobs (a total of 55 million workers).
“Thousands of workers are losing their jobs, many of them living in communities where retail has historically been one of the biggest pillars,” said Shmuel Shayowitz, president and chief lending officer of Approved Funding.
“Vacant storefronts are increasingly common and declining commercial property values have become the norm. For consumers, the consequences mean fewer choices, fewer opportunities to shop in person and, in some cases, higher prices due to less competition.”
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This article was originally published by TheStreet on December 23, 2025, and first appeared in the Retail section. Click here to add TheStreet as your preferred source.
