In this tough economic time, you look around and notice a ton of stores closing their doors. This is an unofficial list of store closings and I hope to keep it up to date. I can assure you, however, that The Dish will not be closing its doors anytime soon 
- The Ann Taylor chain of women's clothing stores (which includes Ann Taylor, LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory and LOFT Outlet stores) said in Novermber 2008 they would expand the scope of a restructuring announced in January 2008 that included the closing of 117 stores (out of approximately 966 locations).
- The Bombay Company chain of imported home furnishings stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2007. All 384 of its U.S.-based stores were closed and liquidated in January 2008 (but new ownership still operates approximately 48 Bombay & Co. stores in Canada).
- The Caché chain of women's specialty apparel stores closed 14 underperforming outlets, but is still has 295 stores across the country and is still opening new stores.
- The Charming Shoppes chain of plus-size women's apparel stores has closed 150 of its approximately 2,360 outlets.
- The Circuit City chain of retail electronics stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2008 and is closing 155 stores across the U.S. (More information about Circuit City's business operations under Chapter 11 protection can be found here.)
- The CompUSA chain of consumer electronics stores was sold to the Gordon Brothers Group restructuring firm in December 2007, and most of its 103 outlets were subsequently closed. In January 2008 many of the remaining assets and the CompUSA brand were sold to Systemax, Inc. which currently operates 23 CompUSA stores in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Puerto Rico, as well as an online store, CompUSA.com. (CompUSA continues to accept gift cards.)
- The Dillard's department store chain closed 20 outlets in 2008 and said it expects more store closures in 2009.
- The Disney Store chain was reacquired by the Walt Disney Co in March 2008; Disney has since closed 98 of its 322 North American stores.
- The Eddie Bauer chain of casual apparels stores shut down 27 outlets in the first quarter of 2008 and planned to close a few more stores by the end of the year.
- The Ethan Allen chain of home furnishings stores closed 12 retail design centers and two service centers in 2008.
- The Foot Locker chain of shoe stores chain closed 274 outlets (out of more than 3,700) in 2007 and another 60 in the first quarter of 2008, with more such closures likely.
- Whitehall Jewelers acquired the remnants of the Friedman's and Crescent chains in early 2008 after that combined company entered bankruptcy, then Whitehall itself filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2008 and began liquidating and closing all 373 of its remaining stores.
- The Gap chain of clothiers (whose brands include Old Navy and Banana Republic) closed 17 stores while opening 37 more during the third quarter of 2008, ending with a total of 3,190 outlets. The company expects to close 115 stores while opening 100 more locations during the 2008 fiscal year.
- The Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video video rental chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2007, just after announcing plans to close 520 stores. In February 2008 the chain announced closings of 400 more outlets, and in April 2008 Movie Gallery said they were shutting down another 160 underperforming stores. The chain emerged from bankruptcy reorganization in May 2008 and currently operates about 3,500 outlets.
- The Home Depot chain of home improvements stores announced in May 2008 that it would be closing 15 underperforming outlets.
- The KB Toys chain of retail toy stores entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2004 and at that time announced plans to close 375 of its outlets. It emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization in August 2005.
- The Kirkland's chain of home decor stores is expecting to close 130 (of its approximately 335) outlets by the middle of 2009.
- The Levitz Furniture chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (for the third time in ten years) in November 2007 and shortly afterwards began the process of closing its stores and liquidating its remaining inventory.
- The Lowe's chain of home improvement stores announced that it was "scaling back" in the sense of opening fewer new outlets in 2008 and 2009 than originally planned, but the company still expects to complete the opening of between 115 to 120 new stores in 2008, with more new stores (and no closures) to follow in 2009.
- The Macy's chain of department stores (which also includes Bloomingdale's) closed 11 (of its approximately 850) outlets in 2008.
- Pacific Sunwear closed 74 underperforming stores in its d.e.m.o. line in 2007 and closed all 154 of its remaining d.e.m.o. stores in 2008. (The company has not so far announced plans to close any of its core Pacific Sunware outlets.)
- The Pep Boys chain of auto supply and repair stores closed 31 low-return outlets (out of approximately 600 stores) at the end of 2007.
- The Sharper Image chain of electronics and specialty gifts stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2008, then began closing and liquidating all 184 of its outlets in June 2008.
- Sprint, a global provider of voice, data and Internet services, announced in January 2008 that it would be closing about 125 of its 1,400 retail outlets.
- Talbots Inc. announced in November 2008 that it was seeking to sell off its chain of J. Jill casual clothier stores. (Talbots has already shed its Talbots Kids, Talbots Mens and U.K. businesses and has closed an additional 28 Talbots stores out of about 1,400 total outlets.) However, we have found no announcement that Talbots is planning to close any J. Jill outlets in the near future: The chain still operates 283 locations, is still opening new stores, and is still selling and redeeming gift cards.
- The Wickes Furniture chain began liquidating merchandise and fixtures at locations nationwide in February 2008 as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
- Wilsons Leather (the Leather Experts) shut down its mall-based locations in 2008, but in July 2008 the Wilsons Leather Outlet Stores (and e-commerce) business was acquired by G-III Apparel Group, which currently operates 119 Wilsons outlets in the U.S.
- Zales Corp, which operates Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Gordon's Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Mappins Jewellers, and Piercing Pagoda, closed approximately 105 retail outlets (out of 2,130) in 2008, half of them kiosks and half of them stores. However, the company also opened approximately 100 new outlets in 2008, so the net change in the number of Zales-operated stores was relatively small.
You ask for some HAPPIER news? I agree, all these store closings are depressing. How bout those AMAs last night?
Brown Dominates American Music Awards...
Chris Brown stole the show at Sunday's 2008 American Music Awards after scooping three major gongs, trailed by Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Rihanna, who all walked away with double wins at the ceremony.
Brown won Favorite Male Artist in the categories of Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B at the event at Los Angeles' Nokia Theater.
His rumored girlfriend Rihanna matched his wins - scoring victories in the same categories, for Favorite Female Artist.
The With You hitmaker went on to beat Keys, Lil' Wayne, the Eagles and Coldplay
for Artist of the Year - modestly insisting the British band was more
worthy of the honor, saying, "I would have gave it to Coldplay. I'm at
a loss for words."
West scored his first-ever AMAs victories in two first-time categories at the award show, beating mentor Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne to win Favorite Rap/Hip-Hip Album for 2007's Graduation.
West also scooped the Favorite Male Artist gong - but offered the award to Lollipop
hitmaker Lil' Wayne during his acceptance speech: "I really appreciate
these two awards but I've got to say I'm a fan of music, so and I've
got my opinion and I want to give this award to (Lil') Wayne for this
year. If it was last year, this would've been my award. We'll see what
happens next year."
R+B singer Alicia Keys was another top winner, walking away with Favorite Album in the Pop/Rock and Soul/R+B categories.
Taking the stage to accept her awards, she applauded her fellow
artists, adding, "I'm so proud to be here tonight for all of the
diversity in music that's represented here, there's something for
everyone... We have a brand new president, there are new changes in the
world and there's nothing we can't do."
The 36th Annual AMAs - which saw performances by artists including Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo and Rihanna and Coldplay - was hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Britney Spears, who was rumored to be making a surprise stage appearance, didn't attend the ceremony.
The full list of American Music Awards winners is as follows:
POP/ ROCK MUSIC
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Chris Brown
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Rihanna
FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP
Daughtry
FAVORITE ALBUM
Alicia Keys - As I Am
COUNTRY MUSIC
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Brad Paisley
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift
FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP
Rascal Flatts
FAVORITE ALBUM
Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride
RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Kanye West
FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP
Three 6 Mafia
FAVORITE ALBUM
Kayne West - Graduation
SOUL/RHYTHM + BLUES MUSIC
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Chris Brown
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Rihanna
FAVORITE ALBUM
Alicia Keys - As I Am
SOUNDTRACKS
FAVORITE ALBUM
Alvin And The Chipmunks
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
FAVORITE ARTIST
Linkin Park
ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
FAVORITE ARTIST
Jordin Sparks
LATIN MUSIC
FAVORITE ARTIST
Enrique Iglesias
CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
FAVORITE ARTIST
Third Day
T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Jonas Brothers
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chris Brown
AWARD OF MERIT
Annie Lennox
Twilight Sequel Gets Green Light...
Summit Entertainment said in Los Angeles it is officially moving
forward with production of "New Moon," the sequel to its just-opened
"Twilight" vampire movie.
The announcement was made Saturday.
Starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, Twilight earned more than $70 million during its first weekend in U.S. theaters. Twilight and New Moon are based on a series of contemporary vampire books written by Stephenie Meyer.
Sweetin 'Staying Positive' After Split...
Actress Jodie Sweetin is "trying to stay positive" following her
split from husband Cody Herpin - for the sake of their baby daughter.
The former Full House star, 26, filed for legal separation from Herpin, 31, on Wednesday in Orange County, California.
Sweetin married the movie set designer in July 2007, weeks after
meeting him for the first time. They welcomed daughter, Zoie, on April
12.
Jolie: 'Motherhood Made Me Appreciate My Looks'...
Angelina Jolie only started to be happy with the way she looked when
she became a mother - because it gave her stunning face more character.
The actress and her partner Brad Pitt have adopted kids Maddox,
seven, Pax, four, and Zahara, three, and biological children Shiloh,
two, and baby twins Knox and Vivienne.
And it was only when she welcomed the tots that she began to appreciate her appearance.
Councilman Aims To Keep L.A. Paparazzi Away From Schools And Hospitals...
A new Los Angeles city law could restrict the paparazzi from snapping stars and their kids on or near schools and hospitals.
Councilman Dennis Zine, who has been waging a war against the
paparazzi for the past two years, has introduced a proposal this week
aimed at limiting snappers' rights.
The new legislation would restrict commercial photography and video
recordings within 20 feet of schools, hospitals and medical facilities.
Costner Big In Japan - As A Musician...Kevin Costner tasted musical success in Japan at the beginning of
his career when his song was picked as the theme to a beer commercial.
The Dances With Wolves star now fronts his own country band, Modern
West, but his first hit came years ago, when he was in a little-known
band called Roving Boy.
He recalls, "We wrote this one little song called I Want to Live in
Tokyo. Some people heard that song and paid us something like $500,000
for it... The guys never had any money. I split the money evenly with
everybody in the band. Nobody had ever made $100,000 before."
Eastwood May Be Retiring From Acting...
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood is retiring from acting, after a career spanning more than 50 years.
The 78-year-old had limited acting success in the 1950s, before
shooting to fame in the 1960s with roles in hit Western movies such as
For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
He went on to star in 1971 classic Dirty Harry and four sequels as hard-edged police inspector Harry Callahan.
Winehouse: 'My Marriage Is Over'...
Thats a first, he said No, No, No.
Amy Winehouse has
declared her marriage to recently-freed husband Blake Fielder-Civil is
over after realizing their relationship had no future.
Fielder-Civil was released from prison earlier this month after
serving almost a year behind bars in relation to an attack on a pub
landlord.
As part of his early release deal, he checked into a rehabilitation
facility in Surrey, south east England - but Winehouse has still yet to
visit her husband, fuelling rumors their union is in trouble.
Fielder-Civil recently spoke out to dismiss the split claims, while Winehouse has remained unusually quiet about the reports.
Tobey Maguire and Wife Expecting Baby #2...
He always looks tired.Tobey Maguire's wife Jen is pregnant with their second child, the Hollywood actor's publicist has confirmed.
Maguire is best known for playing the title role in the trilogy of "Spider-Man" blockbusters. His spouse designs jewelry.
"Tobey and Jen are thrilled," a source close to the couple told
Usmagazine.com. "They can't wait to expand their family with another
little one."
The Maguires, who married in September 2007, are already the parents of 2-year-old Ruby Sweetheart.
Before I sign off...
I wanted to announce the WEIRDEST thing I've seen online in a long time...
Yeah.... weird I know. Video can be seen
here!