The Death of Maryland Retail? Massive Store Closures Confirmed for 2026

Here is the breakdown of the retail shakeup hitting the Old Line State in 2026.

The Macy's Ultimatum: Bel Air & Baltimore Hit Hard

The biggest headline of 2026 is the execution of Macy's "Bold New Chapter" strategy, which aims to close 150 underperforming stores nationwide. Maryland is taking a direct hit.

• Harford Mall (Bel Air): The confirmed targeting of the Bel Air location is a massive blow. As a primary anchor, its departure leaves the Harford Mall in a precarious position, forcing local leaders to scramble to develop redevelopment plans or risk the "dead mall" spiral.
• Security Square (Woodlawn): The loss of Macy's here effectively seals the fate of Security Square as a traditional retail hub, accelerating its transition to a community/office hybrid.

The "Safe Mall" Myth: Trouble in Towson

For years, the narrative was straightforward: "B-list malls will die, but A-list luxury malls will thrive." Towson Town Center—the crown jewel of Baltimore County retail—is proving that rule wrong.

• The Exodus: In a surprising turn of events for 2026, the mall has seen the departures of stable tenants like Banana Republic, Tommy Bahama, and Madewell.
• The Cause: Unlike the economic failures of other malls, these closures are increasingly linked to "safety perceptions" and the struggles of the adjacent Towson Square, where restaurant vacancies have spiked. It's a warning sign that even high-traffic destinations are vulnerable if the "experience" degrades.

The Drugstore Disappearance

Maryland has historically been "over-stored" with pharmacies, often having a CVS and a Walgreens on opposite corners. That era is over.

• Rite Aid's Collapse: Following the closure of its massive distribution center in Aberdeen (which cost over 300 local jobs), the chain's presence in Maryland has been decimated. For residents in rural counties who relied on these locations as their primary general store, the impact is immediate.
• Walgreens Pullback: The chain is finalizing its closure of "redundant" locations, specifically targeting Baltimore City neighborhoods and older suburbs where foot traffic has not recovered to pre-2020 levels.

The "Discount" Correction

Inflation has paradoxically hurt the stores designed to fight it.

• Family Dollar / Dollar Tree: As part of the national closure of nearly 1,000 stores, Maryland is seeing significant cuts in urban centers.
• Shoppers Food Warehouse: The slow fade of the beloved local grocer continues, with more locations in the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) area shuttering in 2025-2026, leaving loyal customers to migrate to Wegmans or Giant.

The "Pivot": Where the Stores Are Going

It isn't all gloom. The retail map isn't shrinking; it's just moving to Montgomery County and "Lifestyle Centers."

• The Rise of the "Rack": While full-line department stores die, their discount cousins thrive. Nordstrom Rack has confirmed a new central location in Rockville, opening in Fall 2026.
• The "Town Center" Model: Development is pouring into mixed-use projects like Pike & Rose (North Bethesda) and Downtown Columbia. Retailers are abandoning enclosed malls to pay higher rent in these open-air, walkable neighborhoods that mimic city streets.

If you live in the D.C. exurbs (Bethesda, Columbia, Potomac), you are getting shiny new lifestyle centers with high-end gyms and sweetgreen salads. But if you live in the traditional Baltimore suburbs or rural counties, you are watching the "big box" era dismantled brick by brick, leaving empty parking lots where your local mall used to be.

Watch a local report on the closing of the Macy's anchors and the specific impact on Harford Mall in this video: Macy's closing stores at Harford Mall, Security Square.