Retail Expansion & New Concepts
December 2025 Snapshot
Retailers and restaurant brands closed out 2025 with a surge of expansion announcements, signaling continued confidence heading into 2026. Below are the key store growth stories reported by Chain Store Age.
Barnes & Noble | 60 New Stores Planned
Barnes & Noble plans to open 60 new locations nationwide in 2026. Markets include Ohio, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, California, Virginia, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., with several openings scheduled by mid-2026.
Sally’s Apizza | Targeting 1,000 Locations
The iconic New Haven-based pizzeria is pursuing aggressive growth with a long-term goal of 1,000 units. Currently operating seven locations, Sally’s plans additional 2026 openings in Connecticut, Boston, Long Island (Roosevelt Field Mall), and Boca Raton, Florida.
Mixue | U.S. Market Entry
Chinese beverage giant Mixue opened its first U.S. store in Los Angeles on December 19, with New York City locations planned next. The chain operates more than 53,000 locations globally and focuses on ice cream, tea, and coffee concepts.
Pacsun | Accelerated Domestic Growth
Pacsun opened nine stores in 2025 and plans to add 20–35 U.S. locations over the next three years. Nine leases are already signed for 2026, marking the company’s most ambitious expansion in nearly two decades.
Von Maur | New Jersey Debut
Von Maur will open its first New Jersey store in fall 2027 at Freehold Raceway Mall. The three-level, 164,000-square-foot anchor will feature apparel, footwear, accessories, and gifts.
Clarks | Cloudsteppers Concept Launch
Clarks opened its first U.S. Cloudsteppers store in Corpus Christi, Texas. Two additional locations are planned for Florida and North Carolina in early 2026 as the brand rolls out its comfort-focused concept.
Academy Sports | Expansion Continues
Academy Sports opened 24 stores in fiscal 2025, reaching 317 locations across 21 states. The retailer plans to open 20–25 new stores in fiscal 2026 and sees long-term potential for 800+ locations nationwide.
Captain D’s | NYC Entry
Captain D’s opened its first New York City location in the Bronx, featuring a compact, walk-up-only format with no dining room or drive-thru, supporting its broader Northeast expansion strategy.
Build-A-Bear x Sanrio | Co-Branded Growth
Build-A-Bear and Sanrio will open co-branded stores at American Dream (NJ) and Mall of America (MN) in early 2026, expanding on the success of their Los Angeles location.
Gymshark | First U.S. Flagship
Gymshark opened its first U.S. flagship on Bond Street in SoHo. The three-story, 13,000-square-foot store features exclusive New York merchandise and neighborhood-inspired design elements.