The 5 Major Chains Closing in Connecticut This February 2026

Here is the breakdown of the major retail chains and locations closing their doors or beginning significant transitions in Connecticut this February.

1. Bob’s Stores: The Final Farewell

• The Status: Complete Brand Exit
• The Impact: In a heartbreaking development for longtime residents, Bob’s Stores—a brand born in Connecticut in 1954—is shuttering its final remaining locations in the state. Key closures hitting hard this month include the stores in Milford and Norwalk, along with other lingering statewide locations.
• Why: Following a failure to secure financing for a corporate restructuring in late 2025, the chain is liquidating its final assets. "Going Out of Business" sales are currently active, marking the end of an era for the "casual clothing and footwear" staple that defined New England retail for decades.

2. Big Lots

• The Status: Bankruptcy "Clean Sweep"
• The Impact: The discount retailer is aggressively shrinking its Connecticut footprint this month following bankruptcy proceedings. Leases for stores in Bristol, Derby, and Middletown have been put up for auction, with liquidation sales in final swing.
• Why: Big Lots is retreating rapidly from the Northeast market, leaving behind 30,000-square-foot vacancies in strip malls that landlords may struggle to fill. The company has cited rising operational costs and a shift in consumer spending away from its "treasure hunt" home goods model.

3. Stop & Shop

• The Status: Targeted Portfolio Pruning
• The Impact: While remaining the state's dominant grocer, Stop & Shop continues to cut underperforming locations. The most significant loss this February involves the store in Clinton (215 East Main Street), which is set to cease operations.
• Why: The company stated that this specific location was not meeting financial expectations. This closure follows a wave of cuts in 2025 (including Torrington and Ansonia) as the chain faces intense pressure from growing competitors like Big Y and ShopRite.

4. Crystal Mall (Waterford)

• The Status: End of Retail Operations
• The Impact: February 2026 marks the effective end of the Crystal Mall as a traditional shopping center. While not a single "chain," the closure of the mall's interior retail corridor is the biggest story in southeastern Connecticut. General Dynamics Electric Boat has acquired the property and is converting it into an educational and support hub for submarine manufacturing.
• Why: The "dead mall" phenomenon. Tenants are vacating throughout the first half of the year, though JCPenney and some perimeter restaurants may remain open during the transition.

5. Macy’s (Logistics Division)

• The Status: Distribution Center Shutdowns
• The Impact: While not a storefront closure, a major economic hit is coming to Cheshire and South Windsor. Macy's is permanently closing its distribution centers in these towns. While the official layoff date is set for mid-March, operations are winding down this February.
• Why: As part of its "Bold New Chapter" strategy, Macy's is consolidating its supply chain. This move will result in over 1,000 job losses, significantly impacting the local economy in New Haven and Hartford counties.

February 2026 in Connecticut is defined by the loss of legacy brands and the repurposing of old retail giants. The most emotional loss is the total exit of Bob's Stores, a local favorite for over 70 years. Meanwhile, the closure of the Clinton Stop & Shop and Big Lots locations highlights the struggle of brick-and-mortar stores in suburban strips. Finally, the transformation of the Crystal Mall into a defense industry hub signals a new era where industrial use may replace retail as the anchor of local economies.