AN iconic department store chain is trekking on with its liquidation sales as 14 mall locations near permanent shutdown in just weeks. At the start of last year, experts estimated 15,000 store closures in 2025 – more than double 2024’s numbers and the highest number seen since the pandemic. US braces for '45,000 store closures' Some 45,000 bricks-and-mortar stores could close in the next five years, experts have warned. Several major retailers have announced store closures or gone out of business altogether in recent years. UBS has predicted the total number of retail stores will drop by 45k from 958k to 913k.