Khürt Williams
Many big stores are putting out signs showing they only have a few days left before it is gone forever.
Shopping is a hobby that almost every person loves to do, whether it’s online or in-store. However, some of the stores that everyone knows and loves may not be around for much longer. Some of the big stores, such as Forever 21, Party City, and Macy’s, have either gone bankrupt or are very close to it.
It is hard to say goodbye to something someone may have loved, especially something one could be used to after many years. Forever 21, a popular clothing store, filed for an official bankruptcy in March. They started to sell all of their items in stores at extremely low prices. This store had been for younger adults and teenagers to get stylish, trendy clothing staples. So why are they filing if people like this store? Forever 21 started to blame online websites such as Shein and Temu on why they have declared bankruptcy. It seems every person in the world shops on these sites for trendy clothes and items now. Sadly, Forever 21 could not keep up with the hype of these online stores. How will the future of in-store shopping continue? It seems now, nobody wants to be inside shopping malls, just on their phones or computers, due to convenience.
Two other big stores that are closing are Party City and Macy’s. Need some party supplies? Go to Party City. For birthdays, Halloween, graduations, and other specific events, Party City was the easiest place to shop for party supplies and decorations. Also, in the early 2000s, hundreds of children and adult Halloween costumes filled the stores. The nostalgia for teens now is real. Shopping with family for a cute Halloween costume was iconic at Party City. High inflation completely affected the stores nationwide and completely tightened party budgets. By the end of February, all Party City businesses were officially shut down. Now, the popular chain Macy’s, also going bankrupt, has been a surprise for some. Big department stores like Macy’s have become less popular as the years go by. They announced that by 2026, 150 stores will be shut down, and 66 have already been shut down. Failing sales and customers changing their shopping habits pushed Macy’s down. However, every year on Thanksgiving, the iconic Macy’s Day Parade takes place in New York City. No word has come out on how that will continue for Americans yearly. The future of department stores is foggy, and who knows if any will be around for much longer.
In-store facilities have become less and less popular over the years. Online shopping has taken over the world. Nobody wants to leave the comfort of their house when they can just click add to cart, and it will be on its way to them. It’s sad to see these stores that used to be so popular nationwide going away like that. Shopping will always continue, however, nobody knows what it will look like for everyone.