Fashion Chain With 18 Michigan Stores Closing 180 Locations

Another major clothing retailer is quietly shrinking its footprint, but this time it's not because of bankruptcy.

Torrid, the women’s fashion chain with stores across Michigan and the U.S., plans to close up to 180 locations as leases expire through 2025. The company says it’s part of a strategy to focus on e-commerce and phase out underperforming stores.

Why Torrid Is Closing Stores

Torrid stores are commonly found in malls and specialize in plus-size women's fashion. In Michigan, the retailer has locations in Birch Run, Okemos, Lansing, Brighton, Saginaw, Traverse City, and several spots in the Grand Rapids and Metro Detroit areas. A Flint location at Genesee Valley Center has already closed.

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In a recent earnings report, Torrid revealed sales dropped nearly 5% year-over-year, and profit margins also declined. Still, the brand remains profitable and says this move is about “optimizing” its store footprint instead of shutting down for good.

Torrid’s Shift Toward Online Sales

Roughly 70% of Torrid’s business now comes from online sales. Rather than keep stores with low foot traffic, the company plans to shift more heavily toward digital growth.

According to Retail Dive, Torrid has closed about 26 of its 658 stores since last year. Back in March, the company had planned to shutter 40 to 50 stores, but CEO Lisa Harper now says that number could reach 180, based on updated earnings.

Despite the cutbacks, Harper says the brand is in a “strong financial position” and plans to refresh about 135 remaining stores to keep loyal shoppers engaged and bring in new ones.

What This Means for Michigan Locations

The report does not specify which—if any—Michigan stores may close by the end of 2025.

Other clothing retailers like Kohl's, Forever 21, and Macy's have made similar moves as shoppers' habits shift toward online shopping.