60 More Disney Stores to Close, Bringing 2021 Total to 153: AZ CA CT FL GA IL MA MD MI NH NJ NV NY ON PA TN TX UT VA WA

Remember when Disney said that “at least 60” locations of The Disney Store would close in 2021? Today alone, the company announced 60 more closures, bringing the 2021 closure total to 153. The next closures will happen “on or before September 15, 2021.”

Since March, the chain has shuttered 93 stores, reducing them to 82 stores in the United States, and 3 in Canada.

The new list includes the final locations in Canada, as well as in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Utah. Prominently, the list also includes two flagship locations — North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and Stockton Street in San Francisco.

Staff learned of the closures on August 19.

The newest closures are:

1. Arizona Mills, Tempe AZ
2. Tucson Premium Outlets, Tuscon AZ
3. Fashion Fair, Fresno CA
4. Westfield Plaza Bonita, National City CA
5. Carlsbad Premium Outlets, Carlsbad CA
6. Lakewood Center, Lakewood CA
7. Serramonte Center, Daly City CA
8. Westfield Fashion Square, Sherman Oaks CA
9. Los Cerritos Shopping Center, Cerritos CA
10. Gilroy Premium Outlet, Gilroy CA
11. Vintage Faire, Modesto CA
12. Westfield Valencia Town Center, Valencia CA
13. Stockton Street, San Francisco CA
14. The Oaks, Thousand Oaks CA
15. Westfield Century City, Los Angeles CA
16. Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance CA
17. Sunvalley Mall, Concord CA
18. Westfield Valley Fair, Santa Clara CA
19. Brea Mall, Brea CA
20. Westfarms Mall, West Hartford CT
21. Danbury Fair, Danbury CT
22. Dadeland Mall, Kendall FL
23. The Florida Mall, Orlando FL
24. Miami International Mall, Doral FL
25. Tampa Premium Outlets, Lutz FL
26. Mall of Georgia, Buford GA
27. North Michigan Avenue (717 N. Michigan Avenue), Chicago IL
28. Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora IL
29. Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg IL
30. Gurnee Mills, Gurnee IL
31. Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, Wrentham MA
32. Burlington Mall, Burlington MA
33. Clarksburg Premium Outlet, Clarksburg MD
34. Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Auburn Hills MI
35. Louis Premium Outlets, Chesterfield MO
36. SouthPark, Charlotte NC
37. Concord Mills, Concord NC
38. Merrimack Premium Outlet, Merrimack NH
39. Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus NJ
40. Menlo Park Mall, Edison (Menlo Park) NJ
41. Deptford Mall, Deptford NJ
42. Jackson Premium Outlets, Jackson NJ
43. Las Vegas South Premium Outlets, Las Vegas NV
44. Queens Center, Elmhurst NY
45. Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls NY
46. Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets, Central Valley NY
47. Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove NY
48. Vaughan Mills, Vaughan ON
49. Scarborough Town Centre, Toronto (Scarborough) ON
50. Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto ON
51. Philadelphia Premium Outlet, Limerick PA
52. Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall PA
53. Opry Mills, Nashville TN
54. Rio Grand Valley Premium Outlets, Mercedes TX
55. Round Rock Premium Outlets, Round Rock (near Austin) TX
56. La Plaza Mall, McAllen TX
57. Houston Galleria, Houston TX
58. City Creek Center, Salt Lake City UT
59. Potomac Mills, Woodbridge VA
60. Westfield Southcenter, Tukwila WA

Disney’s approach: Slow drip, muffled PR

The initial press announcement suggested “at least 60” locations in North America would close in 2021, leaving many employees and fans under the impression that it would be just over 60 closures. Disney has not replied to media requests from numerous outlets.

In the March press release, Disney talked of upping its game online. So far, there’s been no indication of the company making substantive changes to their digital operations. Nor has their been indication of them planning a distribution warehouse in Canada, to ease the pain of cross-border shipping.

The store was founded as a “cultural outpost” of the studio, and cast was reminded that “we bring magic to those who can’t go to the parks.” Many have noted that this attribute is lacking in their online presence.

While store closures in North America are preceded by a quietly posted online graphic, stores in Europe have no such luxury. While signage is posted in store windows, their webpages simply go from business-as-usual to deleted.

25 stores to survive past September 15

The United States will have only 25 stores by the end of September, a shadow of the chain’s former glory.

1. Citadel Outlets, Commerce CA
2. Ontario Mills, Ontario CA
3. The Shops at Las Americas, San Diego CA
4. Arden Fair, Sacramento CA
5. Caramrillo Outlet, Camarillo CA
6. San Francisco Premium Outlets, Livermore CA
7. Silver Sands Outlet Stores, Destin FL
8. Tanger Outlets Branson, Branson MO
9. The Mills at Jersey Gardens, Elizabeth NJ
10. Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, Las Vegas NV
11. Times Square (1540 Broadway, New York City), New York City NY
12. Cincinnati Premium Outlet, Monroe OH
13. OKC Outlets, Oklahoma City OK
14. Woodburn Premium Outlets, Woodburn OR
15. The Shops @ Rockvale, Lancaster PA
16. Tanger Factory Outlet – Hershey, Hershey PA
17. Tanger Outlets – Myrtle Beach 17, Myrtle Beach SC
18. Tanger Outlets Sevierville, Sevierville TN
19. Outlet Shoppes at El Paso, Canutillo (near El Paso) TX
20. Grapevine Mills, Grapevine TX
21. Houston Premium Outlet, Cypress (near Houston) TX
22. Tanger Outlets San Marcos, San Marcos TX
23. Tyson’s Corner Center, McLean VA
24. Seattle Premium Outlets, Tulalip WA
25. The Bellevue Collection, Bellevue WA

What are you thoughts? Is your local location on the list?