More Than 800 Stores Are Set to Open in 2026

On a December 4 earnings call, Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos told analysts that the company plans to open 450 new stores in 2026. It’s a step down from the planned 575 in 2025, but Vasos said there’s no need to race to fill the vacant retail space left by competitors.

“Our competition today is really not opening a lot of stores,” Vasos said on the call. “We don’t feel compelled to have to rush to open a lot of stores.

Aldi kicked off its 50th anniversary year with an announcement of more than 180 new stores set to open across 31 states in the US by the end of 2026.

With its expanded footprint, the grocer expects to operate nearly 2,800 stores by the year’s end, bringing it closer to its goal of 3,200 locations by the end of 2028.

Discount retailer Ollie’s Bargain Outlet showed a strong performance in foot traffic and store openings 2025, and its growth appears to be continuing in 2026.

The company said on a December earnings call that it’s targeting 75 new stores for fiscal year 2026.

Barnes & Noble is set to open 60 new stores in 2026, and has attributed its success to its new decentralized strategy, Fox Business reported on December 23.

“Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful,” the company told Fox Business in a statement.

The book chain was acquired by activist firm Elliott Management in 2019, which jumped at the opportunity to turn the business around as it faced competition from online channels like Amazon. Today, Elliott is reportedly eyeing an IPO along with the new stores openings in 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Grocery chain Kroger has been clear about its intention to open new stores over the past several months. It told investors in 2025 that it expects store openings to increase by 30% this year.

So far, Kroger has confirmed plans to break ground on 14 new stores in 2026.

In a series of press releases published in 2024 and 2025, discount apparel retailer Nordstrom Rack announced plans to open at least 13 new stores across the US throughout the spring and fall of 2026.

The new locations include states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, and California.

Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo is expected to expand by 11 new stores in the US in 2026, according to an announcement obtained by Retail Dive in October.

The openings reportedly include two new flagship stores in Chicago and San Francisco.

“These new stores are not only a milestone of our growth, but a way of honoring the customers who welcomed us two decades ago and continue to inspire everything we do,” Fuminori Adachi, Uniqulo’s US CEO, said in a statement to Retail Dive.

Outdoor lifestyle brand L.L. Bean announced on December 9 that it has plans for a “major retail expansion in 2026,” which includes the opening of eight new stores across the US. The new locations will bring the brand’s total stores to 76 nationwide.

“We continue to see physical retail as an essential part of our growth strategy,” said Greg Elder, L.L.Bean chief retail officer. “Our 2026 expansion reflects our commitment to reaching more people who share our love for the outdoors.”

The One Group Hospitality, which acquired the Japanese restaurant chain Benihana in 2024, announced an agreement on December 29 that secured it the development rights to 10 Benihana or Benihana Express locations.

The deal is expected to see two Benihana locations open in 2026 with the remaining locations to open over the next seven years.