A popular fashion retailer known for plus-size apparel has announced plans to close as many as 180 stores across the United States.
Torrid, which specializes in clothing and intimates for women sizes 10 to 30, revealed last year that it intends to shrink its physical retail footprint by 30 percent. The move focuses on closing underperforming locations while shifting toward a more digitally driven business model.
The California-based retailer has seen stronger performance through its online platform, prompting the strategic pivot. Three well-known locations closed in January.
Which Torrid Locations Have Closed?
The recently closed stores include locations in Peoria, Illinois; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and an area near Sacramento, California. During the first three quarters of the current fiscal year, Torrid shut down 74 stores in total, with 57 of those closures completed by August 2025.
In a letter to investors, CEO Lisa Harper said, “At the same time, digital continues to be our customer’s preferred channel, now approaching 70% of total demand. We’re accelerating our transformation to a more digitally-led business, which includes optimizing our retail footprint.”
She added, “We now plan to close up to 180 underperforming stores this year—allowing us to reduce fixed costs and reinvest in areas that drive long-term growth, including customer acquisition and omnichannel enhancements.”
The updated plan marks a significant increase from earlier projections, which estimated 40 to 50 store closures.
Fans React to Torrid Store Closures
The announcement sparked reactions from customers online. One former shopper shared frustration on Reddit, saying, “I mean I’ve barely been shopping there since the quality went down and I’ve been trying to find other brands (and even looking into making my own) because the prices are insane. They want boutique price for Walmart quality. It’s nuts.”
Another commenter echoed similar concerns, writing, “Honestly, it’s no shock they’re shutting down stores. Customers are catching on that the quality keeps dropping while prices climb higher and higher.”
Why Is Torrid Closing Stores?
Torrid reported net revenue of $266 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, reflecting a 4.9 percent decline from $279.8 million during the same period last year.
Harper noted that the company’s smaller sub-brands have been performing well and contributing to profitability.
“Our sub-brand strategy is delivering positive results, exceeding expectations and helping us reach new and younger customers while driving higher margin sales. With the upcoming launches of Lovesick and Studio Luxe, we’re doubling down on this momentum and expect sub-brands to represent nearly a third of our business by 2026,” she said.
The company has also prepared for the potential impact of tariffs, estimating a $20 million loss if current rates remain in place. However, Torrid expects those costs to be fully offset through voluntary cost reductions, store optimization, and project prioritization.
“We remain in a strong financial position and are executing with clarity and focus. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s commitment to delivering innovative product, deepening customer connections, and building a more agile, resilient business for the future,” Harper said.
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