Closing...Closing...Closed

 

Cato Fashions is closing 75 under-performing locations, and the Muscle Shoals store is one of them. All scheduled closures will come before the end of the year. At this time, the store in Florence will remain open.

Rue 21 is closing all locations and does not plan to have online sales. Merchandise in all stores is drastically marked down.

Sam Ash is closing all locations. The closest of these music stores to the Shoals is in the Nashville area.

Family Dollar is closing 600 locations before the end of the year, with around 400 to be re-evaluated in 2025. These locations are being announced on a monthly basis. (If you know of a new FD closing in North Alabama, send us the info.)

The answer? More parking meters.

Florence Store Closures?

 

When Bed, Bath & Beyond shuttered its Florence store in January, corporate spokespeople stated it was with the hope of reopening after obtaining new financing. Last week, those hopes proved false as it was announced any remaining stores will soon be closing.

How about other rumored local and state closings?

Old Navy/GAP - The last official statement on these two retail giants indicates that GAP won't return, but Old Navy is hanging in there as of early 2023.

J.C. Penney - This former retail giant has continued to offer hope of reopening some stores, but just recently announced that most of the remaining stores south of Birmingham will close. Don't hold your breath.

Tuesday Morning - According to the local manager, the Florence outlet is in no danger of closing in the immediate future.

Bath & Body Works - No signs of closing. The Florence store currently has employment ads on various websites. 

Target - Not too many Targets in the U.S. are closing, and the Florence location is currently remodeling/expanding. Good luck getting in the front door at this time, but will supposedly be worth the inconvenience.

Big Lots - Not on any corporate closure lists at this time.

*****

How about new businesses? 

Speaking of Target, there's been no update on a possible new store on Wilson Dam Road in Muscle Shoals. We can still hope.

Jack's Hamburgers - It seems its latest Shoals store on eastern Florence Boulevard is a major success. That's with the public, not the Florence Police who are issuing tickets to those who use the shoulder to enter the popular eatery. 

What? Surely no drivers in Florence would be guilty of such a thing...