Companies have closed stores and restaurants by the thousands this year, and more are planned for 2026. But some chains are bucking the trend and opening new locations — and plan on expanding next year as well. These retailers and restaurants have already announced plans for new stores, so watch for openings near you in 2026.
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble is maybe the greatest comeback story of the last couple years. They used to be everywhere, but became rare once people started ordering books online instead. Now, they’re opening stores at an impressive clip once again: 60 in 2025, and 60 more planned for 2026. We don’t know exactly where they’ll be located yet, but we know that some will be opening in Ohio, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, California, Virginia, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.
Nordstrom Rack
Nordstrom Rack is the discount store associated with the more posh Nordstrom, so it makes sense that it’s doing well when people are tightening their wallets. The company announced recently that it’s planning to open at least 14 new locations in 2026. We don’t have exact addresses yet, but we do know that they will be spread across 10 different states.
Uniqlo
Japan-based clothing company Uniqlo is planning to open 11 new stores in the U.S. in 2026. They will open in seven cities in the first half of the year, including New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, and Washington, D.C.
Buc-ee’s
The gas station and convenience store wonderland that is Buc-ee’s is opening three new locations in 2026. That may not seem like many, but Buc-ee’s is pretty conservative on its expansion. The new locations will open in Huber Heights, Ohio; Goodyear, Arizona; and San Marcos, Texas, by the end of the year. There are also plans for 14 new locations opening in 2027 or later.
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Costco and Sam’s Club competitor BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open nine new stores in 2026. Though we don’t have exact addresses or opening dates yet, the cities that are getting new stores include:
- Selma, North Carolina
- Delray Beach, Florida
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Forney, Texas
- Waxahachie, Texas
- Grand Prairie, Texas
- SW Fort Worth, Texas
- Foley, Alabama
- Mesquite, Texas
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Costco
Not to be outdone by BJ’s, Costco, with its cult following, is also expanding in 2026. On a corporate call in September, the company announced that it plans to open 35 warehouses over the next year, including five store relocations. That’s on top of the 27 new locations Costco opened in 2025, bringing the total number of stores to over 900 worldwide.
Raising Cane’s
It’s not surprising that Raising Cane’s is planning to open more restaurants in 2026 considering there’s always a long line at the drive-thru. They’ve been opening locations at a truly impressive clip of about 100 per year, and that’s exactly what’s planned for 2026 as well. If that happens, that would make over 1,000 locations for the chain, well on their way to the goal of 1,600 by the end of the decade.
Chick-fil-A
It’s not just Cane’s that’s expanding: OG fried chicken sandwich spot Chick-fil-A has plans to open more locations in 2026 as well. They’ve been opening new restaurants at a steady pace for a long time, and people can never seem to get enough. While there are no official announcements of how many new locations we can expect, new stores have been revealed for a number of cities already, and more will certainly be added to the chain’s list of openings on its website.
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Dutch Bros
Coffee shop Dutch Bros opened 160 new locations in 2025, and plans to open 175 more in 2026, giving stalwarts like Starbucks a run for their money. The chain has a bit of a cult following (just check out the huge secret menu list for proof!) and even plans to start offering breakfast in more of its locations to better compete with other cafe chains.
More From Cheapism
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- 10 Companies With the Most Layoffs in 2025 (Plus More Planned for 2026) — According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, AI alone accounted for nearly 55,000 U.S. job cuts this year.
