The past few years have been unquestionably brutal for retailers.
The trouble began in 2020, when businesses were forced to close to in-person shoppers.
💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter💰💵
Essential retailers like Walmart and Costco were given a pass and got to stay open. But many stores had to turn customers away, and that’s been a hard thing to recover from.
Related: Fashion giant files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to liquidate
That’s not the only challenge retailers have faced in recent years, though. They’ve also had to grapple with inflation.
Inflation has driven costs up for retailers, making it harder for them to fill their shelves. It’s also changed the way consumers spend their money.
These days, a lot of people don’t have much room in their budgets for extras, so they’re cutting back on spending. That, in turn, is driving many retailers out of business.
A ‘comfortable’ clothing retailer is closing all remaining stores.
Image source: Getty Images
Specialty retail has struggled a lot, too
You’d think that at a time when consumers are spending less money, specialty retailers would still manage to stay afloat. After all, when a store centers its business model on a specific type of product, that means there’s a real need for it – or at least pretty consistent demand.
Yet in recent years, a number of niche retailers have filed for bankruptcy and closed their doors on a permanent basis.
Related: Major supermarket chain closing 60 locations
In December of 2024, Party City filed for bankruptcy for the second time in under two years. The company cited changing consumer behavior as a major driver of the decision.
Not long after, fabrics giant Joann filed for bankruptcy in early 2025. The company had been experiencing a steady decline in sales since the pandemic. Plus, it had a lot of debt to grapple with.
Specialty retailer closes all stores
People who work in the medical field wear scrubs on a regular basis. And a lot of people who aren’t nurses, doctors, or full-time caregivers may enjoy sleeping in scrubs or lounging around in them.
For years, Scrub Pro Uniforms was a go-to source of scrubs, with locations in Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Related: Celebrity chef closes restaurant with deep history
But now, Scrub Pro Uniforms has announced that it’s closing all 12 of its stores. Its final store in Turnersville, N.J., is slated to close on July 13.
The company has announced its closure on its website, stating, “We’re filled with gratitude for your loyalty, your smiles, and the stories we’ve shared along the way.”
The news, however, may not be totally shocking to people who have been following the company’s social media page. This past February, Scrub Pro Uniforms announced that it would be having a 50% off liquidation sale at its Turnersville location.
At the time, though, the company reassured its customers, “We are not closing…warehouse is just super heavy on inventory.”
Clearly, though, there was more to the story. In the weeks that followed, Scrub Pro Uniforms locations began shuttering in short order. And now, the Turnersville location’s days are numbered.
The good news is that there may be plenty of great deals to be had at the Turnersville store before its doors close on a permanent basis.
More Retail:
- Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customers
- Target makes a change that might scare Walmart, Costco
- Top investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brand
- Walmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers
Still, the news may come as a blow to people who relied on Scrub Pro Uniforms for work attire. While it’s surely possible to find scrubs elsewhere, a company that specialized in them is hard to replace.
Related: Costco lawsuit unveils major issue with warehouse club stores