California Bears Brunt of Retail Collapse: Chains Lead Mass Exodus

California's Retail Apocalypse: Big Lots and LL Flooring Shutter Stores En Masse

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California's retail landscape is facing a double blow as two major chains, Big Lots and LL Flooring, announce significant store closures across the state. The Golden State is bearing the brunt of these retail giants' financial struggles, with more locations shuttering here than in any other state.

Big Lots, the discount retail behemoth, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with California set to lose a staggering 75 stores - the highest number in the nation. This move comes as part of a larger restructuring plan that will see 295 stores closing immediately, with an additional 250 slated for closure by early 2025.

While CEO Bruce Thorn attempts to paint the bankruptcy as a strategic move towards new ownership and streamlined operations, industry experts like Neil Saunders of GlobalData view it as an "inevitable" outcome of relentless pressure on both revenue and profits.

Adding to California's retail woes, LL Flooring (formerly known as Lumber Liquidators) has announced the closure of 37 stores in the state, again topping the list of closures nationwide. This double hit to California's retail sector underscores the challenging economic environment facing brick-and-mortar stores in the region.

As California shoppers brace for the impending closures, they can still use gift cards and store credit at the remaining locations of both chains. The retail industry watches closely as these once-thriving businesses fight for survival in a rapidly evolving market, with California at the epicenter of their most dramatic changes.

California Big Lots Locations Closing

Big Lots will close 75 locations in California. Their locations are:

• Anaheim Hills
• West Anaheim
• Atascadero
• Atwater
• Bakersfield -Oil Junction
• Bakersfield- East Hills
• Beaumont
• Camarillo
• Santa Clarita
• Ceres
• Chico
• Chino
• Concord
• Corona
• Culver City
• Delano
• El Cajon
• Elk Grove
• Fairfield
• Folsom
• Fontana
• Freedom (Watsonville)
• Fresno -West Shaw Avenue
• Fresno- Kings Canyon Road
• Fresno- Northgate Shopping Center
• Gardena
• Gilroy
• Hercules
• Indio
• La Habra
• La Mesa
• Livermore
• Lodi
• Lompoc
• Long Beach
• Los Banos
• Manteca
• Merced
• Milpitas
• Mission Viejo
• Modesto (Salida)
• North Highlands
• Oceanside
• Ontario
• Oroville
• Paradise
• Placerville
• Rancho Santa Margarita
• Redlands
• Riverside (Canyon Springs Parkway)
• Rohnert Park
• Sacramento -La Riviera Drive
• Sacramento- Valley Hi Drive
• Salinas
• San Bernardino
• Santa Clara
• Santa Maria
• Santa Paula
• Santa Rosa
• Simi Valley
• Spring Valley
• Stockton
• Temecula
• Torrance
• Tracy
• Turlock
• Ukiah
• Vacaville
• Victorville
• Visalia
• South Whittier
• Woodland
• Yuba City
• Yucca Valley

Your thoughts

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