10 Stores That Closed & Surprisingly Relaunched Later

#10: American Apparel

Thanks to their classic pieces and often provocative advertising, they found themselves among the fastest growing businesses in the United States. Unfortunately for American Apparel, that success wouldn’t last long. Signs of financial distress began to show in the 2010s, thanks to dwindling sales, massive debt repayments, and the firing of their CEO, Dov Charney. After filing for bankruptcy twice, they were purchased by Gildan Activewear in 2017. The brand was then relaunched with the same name, and significant changes everywhere else. They put an emphasis on empowerment rather than sexualization, returned to the company’s activity roots, and reopened as a strictly online retailer. Though the changes were extreme, it allowed them to regain both their old customer base and a new one as well.

#9: Payless ShoeSource

At their peak, they supplied affordable shoes to people across the globe in almost four dozen countries. That wasn’t enough to save Payless ShoeSource, who found themselves victim to the growing popularity of online shopping in the 2010s. That coupled with a large, unpaid debt led to them filing for insolvency in 2017, and then again in 2019. Following the second one, they closed over 2,300 stores across North America. Ironically, the growth of online shopping that was their downfall would end up being their savior later on. In 2020, they came back as an e-retailer, “Payless.” While they’re thriving in the digital space, they plan on hopefully re-opening more stores in the future as well.

#8: Gymboree

With their parent brand The Children’s Place at the helm, they became the go-to for families who wanted cute clothes and fun classes for their kids to enjoy. They ran into trouble after being bought by Bain in 2010 for 1.8 billion dollars. They filed for bankruptcy twice and bounced back, but their third in 2019 was the final straw. Their physical locations closed, and it seemed they were gone for good. Luckily, they were picked back up by their original owner. By 2020, they reopened on a much smaller scale as an online retailer and as a store-within-a-store in various The Children’s Places. When that proved to be a success, they graduated to brick-and-mortar, with their first location opening in 2024.

#7: Sharper Image

Sometimes the answer to resuscitating a business is returning to its roots. Sharper Image first debuted as a catalog in 1977, where they offered a variety of electric tools and toys. They then expanded into physical locations, with more than 180 in the United States. Things went downhill when they sued Consumer Reports over a negative review on their ionic air purifiers, leading to their own customers suing them. After years of losses, they declared bankruptcy and closed in 2008. Their products were sold by third-party sellers until they were acquired by ThreeSixty Group in 2016. They were relaunched as an online catalog with a new, sleek look, and saw so much success that they opened a pop-up in Times Square in 2017.

#6: Lord & Taylor

Despite being in business for nearly two hundred years, they still weren’t safe from the pitfalls of COVID-19. Lord & Taylor originally opened in 1826 as a dry goods retailer but eventually transitioned into a full-on department store. They had to temporarily shut down following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. By the time they reopened that July, the writing was on the wall. By August, they’d filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and planned to close everywhere. They were then purchased by Saadia Group, beginning their transition into the online space. Since the acquisition, they’ve become a thriving luxury digital market. What’s even better is that they got their iconic logo back in 2024, returning to tradition in the best way possible.

#5: Limited Too

Millennials everywhere will be ecstatic to hear this. Those who grew up in the late 1990s and early 2000s will be more than familiar with Limited Too, a brand that primarily made clothing for kids and teenagers. Despite its popularity, their parent company announced in 2008 that its name would be discontinued in order to convert them into Justice, a cheaper children’s clothing brand. Its replacement ended up shutting its doors in 2020, giving the original a sudden opportunity. After being bought by Bluestar Alliance LLC, clothes were available online. Then Limited Too came back in 2024 with a bang by releasing a new line of clothes for kids and adults in Kohl’s stores across the country.

#4: FAO Schwarz

The disappointment that comes with an iconic part of a city disappearing is unmatched. FAO Schwarz had been a staple of New York City and the holiday season since 1870. Things were going great until the 21st century, when they were acquired by Right Start, Inc. in 2001. They filed for bankruptcy twice in 2003, and by 2004, all but two locations had been shuttered. It was bought by Toys “R” Us in 2009, resulting in their remaining stores being closed. In 2016, ThreeSixty Group swooped in and purchased it once more. They opened two new emporiums in NYC in 2018, reigniting the company’s popularity. Since then, the relaunched brand has launched new stores in the U.S. and Europe.

#3: Circuit City

If they can pull this off, it’ll be proof that anything really is possible. Circuit City was at the forefront of electronics sales, and was the first to operate a superstore dedicated to them. Yet after a series of questionable decisions — from undergoing a billion-dollar retrofitting to ceasing the sale of large appliances — they closed over 150 stores in 2008. They filed for bankruptcy that same year and were granted over a billion in funds, but still shut down in 2009. They were purchased in 2016, and officially came back in 2018 as a store-within-a-store and as an online retailer. Their goals of integrating AI into their business and collaborating with other companies should hopefully ensure their long term success.

#2: Bed Bath & Beyond

While they saw immense success throughout the end of the 20th century and well-into the 21st, the end of the 2010s brought on a sudden downturn for the big-box retailer. The writing was on the wall when several directors were pressured to step down around the same time the company made the unpopular call to stop their promotional deals. The true death knell was COVID-19, causing them to shut down 200 locations. After a few more years and steadily increasing debt, they officially closed in 2023. Their name was bought afterwards by the Brand House Collective, and was rechristened Bed Bath & Beyond Homes,. tTheir first brick & mortar store since relaunching opened in August of 2025, and we can only hope there’ll be more to come.

#1: Toys “R” Us

For decades, they delighted customers of all ages. Despite the popularity of Toys “R” Us, by the 2010s they were drowning in debt to the tune of five billion dollars. In 2017, they filed for bankruptcy in order to pay it off, but ended up closing a year later instead. Their attempts to re-open the following year were stifled by the pandemic. They had another chance when WHP Global bought their parent company in 2021, helping them facilitate a deal with Macy’s to relaunch smaller stores within theirs in several states. It was a resounding success, allowing them to open flagship shops. With their return, the newest generation will now have the chance to enjoy the same magic as those that came before them.

Which iconic store from your childhood would you love to see relaunch and reopen? Let us know in the comments below!