Carter’s — one of the largest children’s apparel retailers in the U.S. — is in the midst of a strategic retail reshaping that includes store closures and downsizing through 2026. Rather than going out of business, Carter’s is optimizing its physical footprint as consumer shopping habits shift.
How Many Carter’s Stores Are Closing in 2026
Carter’s announced plans to close approximately 150 stores across North America as part of an ongoing restructure.
Of those closures, about 100 are expected to be complete by the end of 2026, with the remainder occurring later as the company continues to evaluate performance and optimize its footprint.
Estimated store closures in 2026: ~100 stores
This figure comes from multiple retail analysts and reporting on Carter’s corporate plans, where the closure timeline includes 2025 and 2026 as core downsizing years.
How Many Carter’s Stores Will Remain Open
Before the closure plan began, Carter’s operated roughly 1,300+ retail locations across the U.S. and Canada (including Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh branded stores).
After closing an estimated ~100 stores through 2026:
Approximately ~1,200 Carter’s retail locations are expected to remain after 2026.
Some of these remaining stores are full-line Carter’s locations, while others are OshKosh B’gosh, outlet, or mixed children’s apparel formats.
Where Closures Are Happening
While Carter’s has not published a nationwide closure list by store location, closures over 2025–2026 have been reported in areas including:
– Mall locations with declining foot traffic
– Smaller markets with overlapping coverage
– Underperforming outlet centers
– High-rent urban centers where digital sales outperform physical store demand
Specific known closures reported in local news and retail monitoring sites include stores in:
Carter’s — Northbrook, IL (example closure reported)
Carter’s — Springfield, OH
Carter’s — Lafayette, LA
Carter’s — Antioch, CA
Carter’s — Albany, NY
Because Carter’s closures are ongoing and vary by region, closure lists are often updated as leases expire and performance decisions are finalized — meaning new closures can be announced throughout 2026.
