Old Navy's flagship State Street store is the latest retailer to close a downtown location

This Tuesday, Old Navy on State Street closed its doors for good.

Photo byartistmac/Flickr.com/CC BY-SA 2.0

(CHICAGO) When I used to work downtown, I liked to exercise in the mornings at a gym across the street from my office. One morning I realized with horror that I had forgotten to pack a work skirt. All I had were my workout shorts.

Old Navy to the rescue! In my workout clothes, I ran over to the State Street location, bought a new work-appropriate outfit, and made it to my desk only a few minutes late.

Now, morning exercisers, cyclists, and runners that forget a piece of work clothing and want to pick up something appropriate, but on the cheap, are out of luck downtown.

Old Navy has vacated its flagship State Street store. The company announced in a statement this week,

"We regularly and thoughtfully review our real estate to support the best path forward for our brand and Gap Inc. Our Old Navy State Street location will close end of day on Tuesday, 1/24. Local customers can continue to shop at our other Chicago locations including Roosevelt Collection, North & Kingsbury, and Riverpoint Center, or shop our family of brands online."

The location at 150 N. State Street has been a cornerstone in The Loop since 2012. And before that, the store had been located just a few blocks south since 1998.

Losing Old Navy's State Street store is yet another blow to downtown Chicago since the pandemic.

According to Block Club Chicago, the following stores have recently left the stretch of Michigan Avenue downtown:

• Banana Republic
• DSW
• Urban Outfitters
• New York & Company
• Gap
• Timberland
• Uniqlo
• Topshop
• Cartier
• Water Tower Place: Macy's Abercrombie & Fitch, and David's Tea and Papyrus

According to Crain's Chicago Business, North Michigan Avenue was at a 29% vacancy rate this summer.

Old Navy in Chicago

There are still six Old Navy locations in Chicago and many more in the suburbs. But nothing within walking distance of downtown.

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