Major Brands Michigan Lost This Year: Rite Aid, Joann’s Fabrics, and More

It's been a rollercoaster of a year for the business world. Tariffs have led to major brands suing the Trump Administration, while other household names that have been limping along for years have finally closed their doors. Now more than ever, it seems like brick-and-mortar stores are struggling to keep up with online marketplaces.

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So we're going to have a small in memoriam compilation of all the iconic stores Michiganders said goodbye to this year, including Party City, Joann's Fabrics, and more. 

JoAnn's Fabrics

After entering bankruptcy, 33 of 41 stores in Michigan closed, and on February 21st, JoAnn's Fabrics officially announced it would liquidate all its stores and cease operations. It was a sad end to a store that had supplied hobbists with yarn and fabrics since 1943.

Read more about JoAnn Fabrics's closure.

Rite Aid

One of Michigan's long-time pharmacies filed for bankruptcy in October 2023. Despite efforts to get out of debt, the pharmacy abruptly announced in 2024 that it would be closing all its Michigan locations and most of its Ohio locations. Since Michigan's locations have closed, the entire company has shut down, with its website now simply stating:

All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support.

Party City

Michigan's go-to store for party supplies announced the party was over after Party City declared bankruptcy in 2023. The company made a surprisingly successful turnaround, emerging from bankruptcy and shifting to e-commerce.

READ MORE: Grand Rapids Businesses See a Strange Rise in Storefront Crashes

But that success didn't last long after the company announced at the end of 2024 that it would be closing all its stores and ceasing operations, closing all 21 locations around Michigan.

Read more about Party City's closure.

Kum & Go/Maverik

Kum & Go's time in Michigan was short and strange. The gas station chain made what at the time seemed like a monumental expansion into West Michigan. Even as some locations were still under construction, Kum & Go announced that Maverik was acquiring it. 

READ MORE: How to Find the Hidden Tattoo Parlour in Grand Rapids

The first Maverik location opened, but once again, before the other places had even begun rebranding, Maverik sold all its Michigan locations to Casey's. Casey's is now open and thriving.

Read more about the Kum & Go and Maverik rebrands.

T.G.I. Fridays

While there is now a single TGI Friday still open in Southfield, the company closed its final location in West Michigan earlier this year, leaving the state with only one restaurant. Things don't appear to be improving for the restaurant chain either, so the Southfield location's days are most likely numbered unless something changes.

Forever 21

Malls have been in a rough spot for years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. But mall staple Forever 21 found itself in a bit of irony after it closed all 9 locations across Michigan. The retailer blamed e-commerce companies like TEMU and Shein for its downfall, but the writing has been on the wall since 2019, when it filed for bankruptcy.

Read more about Forever 21's closure.