Will Kohl’s close any more stores? Here’s What We Know
About one year ago, Kohl’s recently closed more than a dozen stores. Now, the retailer is still holding on to its store inventory.
The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-headquartered retailer currently has 1,150 stores, which comes after closing 27 stores in the first four months of 2025. Among its current stores, “more than 90% are profitable,” CEO Michael Bender said during Kohl’s March 10 earnings call discussing the company’s 2025 fiscal year.
At the moment, the company does not foresee closing more stores – or opening new ones – and will instead focus on improving operations in its existing stores. “I wouldn’t expect any kind of good plan to say we’re taking out stores or adding stores right now,” Bender said during the call. “What we really focus on is making the best of what we already have and we will focus on making sure that we continue to push the retail product forward.”
The company evaluates stores “annually,” Bender said, responding to questions about additional closings or openings. “And to the extent that there’s an opportunity for us to relocate … we can do that. But there’s no big change in the expectations of the store base right now.”
Kohl’s is making moves to improve sales
Consumers are suffering from high prices in all spending categories, and the company should look into that.
“The consumer behaves differently in this challenging macroeconomic environment,” Bender said. “We know that our low- to middle-income customers continue to face financial pressures and demand value.”
Among the steps taken by Kohl’s to help improve sales growth:
- Cosmetics: MAC Cosmetics will be available at 850 Sephora and Kohl’s locations this month.
- Children’s clothing: Offer more under So and Sonoma brand clothing for less than $10 and increase Jumping Beans and FLX Kids clothing in all stores for the summer.
- Impulse Deals: The company has rolled out a “deal bar” with items priced at $10 or less at the front of the store and will be shipping the Impulse Toy Tower, with toys also priced under $10.
Is Kohl’s Conversion Profitable?
Kohl’s reported revenue of $125 million for the quarter, which ended January 31, 2026, and included the holiday shopping season. That’s up from $48 million in the same period last year. Full-year revenue of $272 million is up $109 million from fiscal year 2024.
However, sales fell 3.9% for the quarter and 4% for the year – continuing the company’s streak of low sales going back years.
The company projects sales to be flat or down about 2% in 2026. “We end 2025 in a stronger position than when we started, although significant work still lies ahead of us,” Bender said.
Kohl’s has shown some progress, but the company must stabilize its market share “and both the results of 4Q and the guidance of 2026 flat sales to gradually suggest that the end of this story has not been told,” said David Silverman, senior director at Fitch Ratings in a research note about Kohl’s earnings. “The company has the necessary tools to make the change and 2026 will be an important time to see if sales can remain stable.”
Mike Snider is a national trends reporter for USA TODAY.
This article first appeared in USA TODAY: Will Kohl’s close more stores? Here’s what we know.
Mike Snider and Ricardo Torres report, USA TODAY
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