December 30, 2025
Here are our picks for top news impacting retailers today:
- Blimpie’s has quietly shuttered nearly 2,000 locations across the U.S. over the past two decades, with only about 100 restaurants remaining. “Some of the factors that triggered Blimpie’s fall from grace included poor management decisions and overexpansion in poorly chosen areas. One of the chain’s biggest blunders was its attempt to branch into unconventional spaces like convenience stores, kiosks, and carts. These ventures failed to generate meaningful profits,” reporter Anita Surewicz wrote (via The Takeout).
- Starbucks is engaged in a plan to close approximately 400 locations as part of its $1 billion restructuring effort. Metro areas such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles are being targeted as regions playing host for the bulk of the closures (via Michigan Live).
- Holiday spending ticked upward by 4.2% year-over-year this season, according to Visa data. Perhaps surprisingly, 73% of total spend took place in-store, with 27% being captured online. “This season also marked a turning point, with artificial intelligence shaping how people discover products, compare prices, and interact with offers. This led to a more informed, more intentional consumer, ensuring they could stretch their discretionary spending,” said Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa (via Chain Store Age).
- Sears is finally exiting the scene, according to reportage from The New York Times. “The goal is to sell the remaining Seritage [Sears] assets as quickly and profitably as possible, but we are also very open to an alternative transaction that could enhance shareholder value,” Adam Metz, chief executive of Seritage, told the outlet (via Chain Store Age).
- Jack in the Box is preparing to shut down an estimated 80-120 stores by the end of 2025, having already shuttered approximately 70 stores so far this year, as financial problems accrue. “In my time thus far as CEO, I have worked quickly with our teams to conclude that Jack in the Box operates at its best and maximizes shareholder return potential, within a simplified and asset-light business model,” CEO Lance Tucker said in April (via FOX Business).