Mall Staple To Shutter 180 Stores Nationwide

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA — A popular women's retail store may disappear from your local mall soon, as the company just announced plans to downsize its brick-and-mortar footprint.

Torrid, a brand founded in 2001 and known for its inclusive sizing and trendy styles, just announced plans to shutter 180 of its stores across the country.

The news came during the company’s Q1 earnings call, where CEO Lisa Harper revealed that a growing number of shoppers are ditching brick-and-mortar locations altogether.

According to Harper, a striking 70% of Torrid’s total demand now comes from digital channels.

“Digital continues to be our customer’s preferred channel,” she said, hinting at a broader transformation in how the company plans to reach and retain its audience.

Rather than keeping underperforming stores afloat, Haper said Torrid will close them permanently in an effort to cut fixed costs and redirect resources into more promising areas — like acquiring new customers and strengthening its online and omnichannel capabilities.

Torrid, which offers sizes 10 to 30, delivered its first quarter results in line with expectations, with $266 million in net sales, "reflecting our continued focus on disciplined execution and profitability,” Harper said.

The CEO says the company has achieved recent success with a younger audience thanks to the launch of its newer brands.

MORE RETAIL NEWS FROM PATCH:

• Michaels Just Acquired A Collapsed Legacy Fabric Chain
• This Affordable Retailer Is Now Available For Home Delivery
• Troubled Pharmacy Chain To Close 34 More CA Stores
• Hooters Abruptly Closes Restaurants Across U.S. Amid Bankruptcy
• Egg Prices Just Cracked. Here's What Changed
• This Retail Chain Is Making A 'Big' Comeback
• Home Decor Retailer Expected To File For Bankruptcy: Report
• After 80 Years, This Company Is Shutting Down — Here’s What Went Wrong

  ---

“Our sub-brand strategy is delivering positive results, exceeding expectations and helping us reach new and younger customers while driving higher margin sales," Harper said. "With the upcoming launches of Lovesick and Studio Luxe, we’re doubling down on this momentum and expect sub-brands to represent nearly a third of our business by 2026.”

Harper's update arrives at a time when brick-and-mortar staples, like JCPenney and Forever 21, have filed for bankruptcy and have already closed hundreds of storefronts across the nation.

Still, Harper remains confident that Torrid will survive an uncertain time for big retail chains amid international tariffs and a shift toward online shopping.

“We remain in a strong financial position and are executing with clarity and focus. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s commitment to delivering innovative product, deepening customer connections, and building a more agile, resilient business for the future,” Harper said.

Harper did not provide a location list or timeline for when the stores would close but said they would shutter this year. The chain operates hundreds of locations in Canada and across several U.S. states.