Business

Is your favorite store gone? Check out recent retail cuts, expansions in Miami

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

South Florida’s retail scene is in flux, as some brands shutter while others surge. This list of stories outlines big changes like Macy’s closing five stores as part of a strategy to focus on high-performing locations, and Joann’s bankruptcy resulting in the loss of all its fabric and craft stores in the region.

Meanwhile, Publix expands with a spacious new store in The Falls area, offering a sleek prototype and extra amenities. The familiar Barnes & Noble on Kendall Drive plans a move to a smaller, more efficient store nearby, while Rooms to Go sets its sights on building one of its largest showrooms yet. As Forever 21 and Big Lots vanish from local malls, shoppers watch favorite stores leave, but also witness new spaces and retailers shaping the future landscape.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Macy’s makes merry as Aracely Guadamus gets gifts for her two granddaughters and her son during Black Friday at Dadeland Mall in Miami on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. On Jan. 10, 2025, Macy’s announced it was to close 66 more stores but Dadeland’s is not one of them. By Lex Foderé

NO. 1: MACY’S ‘BOLD MOVE’ MEANS CLOSING FIVE SOUTH FLORIDA STORES. HERE’S WHERE THEY ARE

What shoppers should know about the changes. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

Joann, a retailer specializing in fabrics and craft items, has filed for bankruptcy twice this past year. Stores in South Florida are on the list. By Hannarose McGuinness

NO. 2: JOANN, THE FABRIC PLACE, IS CLOSING STORES. IS YOUR MIAMI OR BROWARD SITE ON THE LIST?

The retail chain has been in business for more than 80 years. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

Publix greeted customers at the 7 a.m. grand opening of its long-awaited rebuilt Briar Bay store with custom bags on Feb. 27, 2025.

NO. 3: A NEW PUBLIX JUST OPENED IN THE FALLS AREA, AND SHOPPERS HAVE BEEN TALKING. TAKE A LOOK

The Briar Bay Publix is just one of several opening in March around Florida. | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

American Freight Furniture and Mattress store in Macon, Georgia, is among the more than 300 set to close due to bankruptcy announcement on Nov. 3, 2024.

NO. 4: THESE STORES ARE DISAPPEARING FROM THE SOUTH FLORIDA RETAIL SCENE. WILL YOU MISS THEM?

Take a look at the brands and the locations. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

A Forever 21 store on Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach in a file photo from Oct. 5, 2019.

NO. 5: FOREVER 21’S BANKRUPTCY MEANS SHUTDOWNS AT SOUTH FLORIDA MALLS. SEE THE LIST OF STORES

The fashions were a hit with young shoppers. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

In this file photo from Oct. 30, 2024, comedian Brittany Brave is photographed outside of the Barnes & Noble bookstore in West Kendall. Brave grew up in Miami’s Kendall neighborhood and worked at this store as a barista during high school and had a stand-up performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center on Nov. 23, 2024. By MATIAS J. OCNER

NO. 6: COULD ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROOMS TO GO IN THE COUNTRY REPLACE A BELOVED KENDALL BOOKSTORE?

The closing plans coincide with other plans for expansion. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.