Fossil is closing 15 stores this year as retail sales at malls continue to decline.
Fossil Group CEO Franco Fogliato announced the closure during an earnings call in May. The retailer operates about 200 stores across the United States, but has already closed seven stores in the first three months of 2026.
If additional closures go ahead, Fossil will operate at 185 locations globally by the end of the year.
The move follows a trend of company closures, with Fossil closing more than 100 stores by 2024, including 54 in 2024 and 49 in 2025.
USA TODAY contacted Fossil for a list of the 15 stores that will be closing.
Fossil is moving more toward e-commerce, CEO says
The company reported its first-quarter adjusted operating income was $10 million, up from $9 million in the same period last year. One of the company’s main priorities moving forward is to invest in its e-commerce platform, Fogliato said.
Mall stores are experiencing heavy rotation as many long-standing brands continue to close. In August, Claire’s filed for bankruptcy for the second time in seven years, the first being in March 2018. The company operated 1,326 stores in the United States prior to the filing.
According to the University of Michigan’s Journal of Economics, malls are seeing a decline in popularity as e-commerce becomes the preferred method of shopping. According to the student-run economic magazine, retail sales of shopping centers have declined over the past few decades due to economic and technological challenges, making them no longer sound investments.
As major retailers close, malls struggle. When Forever 21 went bankrupt, the university noted, the company closed 200 stores in the United States, making it difficult for the mall to lease to other tenants.
However, there is hope, as the younger generation is seen buying their clothes in malls. According to the university, shoppers aged 18 to 24 made 62% of their total general merchandise purchases in stores last year.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach him at (email protected).