California retail closures are accelerating as major chains permanently shut down stores across the state. Walmart confirmed the closure of a long-running Fremont location after more than twenty years, stating the decision was not due to declining sales or online competition, but because operations could no longer be sustained under current business conditions.
This report also examines the wider retail pattern unfolding statewide, including Target’s closure of its Broadway and 27th Street store in Oakland, where manager Sarah Chen cited theft and organized retail crime as creating unsafe conditions for employees and customers. Other major companies have followed with large-scale shutdowns, including Walgreens, CVS, Macy’s, and additional Target locations, reshaping California’s commercial landscape.
Over the past year, estimates suggest California has lost between 15,000 and 20,000 retail outlets. Walgreens closed 500 stores in California in 2025 as part of a nationwide reduction, while CVS shuttered hundreds more. Macy’s also closed dozens of locations, and Target shut down nine stores in 2023, including multiple in the Bay Area.
These closures have contributed to significant job losses, with more than 175,000 California retail jobs disappearing in 2025. Communities have faced reduced shopping access, employment instability, and shrinking retail presence.
The report highlights how changes in property crime enforcement, including Proposition 47’s reclassification of theft under $950, have drawn attention in studies examining retail theft trends. Data also shows declining property crime clearance rates, meaning fewer theft reports result in arrests. Retailers have responded with increased security measures, locked displays, and rising operational costs that can reach consumers through higher prices.
The story also explores community-level impacts, including the closure of a Target store in East Palo Alto and the challenges faced by workers and residents when essential goods become harder to access.
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