Ross Stores is opening new locations in 2026 — yet rumors about the chain shutting down keep circulating online. It’s a strange disconnect. The company is actively expanding, but some shoppers still wonder if the doors are about to close for good.
This article gives you a straight answer, explains where the confusion comes from, and shows you how to read the signs yourself — whether you’re a shopper, an employee, or someone thinking about buying a gift card.
Ross Is Not Going Out of Business
Let’s get right to it: Ross Stores is not closing down. It is adding stores.
In early 2026, Ross opened 17 new locations — 13 Ross Dress for Less stores and 4 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores. Those weren’t isolated openings. They were described as the first wave of the company’s 2026 rollout.
The full target for 2026 is approximately 110 new stores: around 85 Ross Dress for Less locations and 25 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores. That is a significant number. Companies that are preparing to shut down do not draw up plans to open over a hundred new locations and then follow through on them.
That’s not spin. It’s just basic logic. Expansion costs money, requires lease commitments, and demands staff hiring and training. None of that happens when a retailer is headed toward closure.
Where the “Closing” Rumors Actually Come From
The confusion has two main sources. Once you understand them, the rumors make a lot more sense — even if they’re still wrong.
The COVID-19 Closures in 2020
In March 2020, Ross temporarily closed every single Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS store in the United States. The company filed notice with the SEC on March 20, 2020, and was clear that the closures were temporary and tied directly to the COVID-19 pandemic and government public health guidelines.
Those stores later reopened. The 2020 closures had nothing to do with financial distress, bankruptcy, or a business in decline. They were an externally forced pause — the same kind that hit retailers across the country at that time.
But that event stuck in people’s memories. Some shoppers still associate Ross with “all stores closed,” and when they hear any closure news today, that memory gets triggered.
Individual Store Closures Get Amplified Online
The second source is social media. When a single Ross location closes — say, because a mall is being redeveloped or a lease expired — someone often posts a photo of the “store closing” sign. That photo gets shared, people react, and suddenly it looks like the whole chain is going under.
But individual store closures happen at every major retail chain, all the time. A store closing in one city tells you nothing about the other 1,700+ Ross locations across the country. It definitely tells you nothing about a chain that is simultaneously planning to open 110 new stores.
One closing sign on social media is not evidence of a company collapse. It’s evidence that one specific location stopped operating — which is completely normal retail management.
Why Ross’s Business Model Makes It More Resilient
Ross is an off-price retailer. That means it buys excess inventory, closeouts, and overruns from brands — then sells that merchandise at a discount. TJ Maxx and Burlington operate the same way.
This model holds up well when consumers are watching their budgets. During periods of inflation or economic pressure, more shoppers look for ways to get brand-name clothing and home goods without paying full price. That’s exactly where off-price retail wins.
Full-price department stores have struggled significantly over the past decade. Many have filed for bankruptcy or shut down entirely. Off-price retailers like Ross have generally held their ground because their value proposition gets stronger when times are tight, not weaker.
Ross’s decision to expand in 2026 reflects management’s read on where demand is heading. They’re not guessing — they’re committing capital and resources based on what they’re seeing in actual sales performance.
What “Going Out of Business” Actually Looks Like
It’s worth being specific about what a real retail collapse looks like, so you can recognize the difference.
When a retailer is genuinely going out of business, you’ll see:
- Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings, which are public court records
- Liquidation sales with “everything must go” signage across most or all locations
- Bulk closure announcements covering hundreds of stores at once
- Major news coverage from business outlets like Reuters, CNBC, or the Wall Street Journal
- Stock exchange warnings, trading halts, or dramatic earnings alerts
None of those markers are present with Ross right now. What’s present instead is a store opening schedule and a stated plan to keep growing.
How to Read Ross’s Financial Health Without a Finance Background
You don’t need to be an analyst to check whether a company is in trouble. Here’s what to look at.
It’s a Public Company
Ross trades on NASDAQ under the ticker ROST. That matters because publicly traded companies are required to disclose serious financial problems. Bankruptcy filings, major debt defaults, and significant earnings warnings all become part of the public record — and business journalists cover them quickly.
If Ross were heading toward collapse, you wouldn’t just hear whispers on social media. You’d see it reported by major financial outlets, and the stock price would reflect it clearly.
Watch Net Store Count
One of the simplest ways to read a retailer’s health is net store count: total openings minus total closures. A chain that is consistently net-positive — opening more than it closes — is not contracting.
Ross has been net-positive on store count and is planning to stay that way through 2026 and beyond. Management has discussed multi-year growth opportunities, particularly in regions where Ross is still underpenetrated.
Check the Source Before You React
Before believing any claim about Ross closing, ask: where is this coming from? Is it a local news report about a specific location? A social media post with no corporate source? Or is it an official company announcement, a press release, or an SEC filing?
Those are very different things. Getting that distinction right will save you from a lot of unnecessary worry — about Ross or any other retailer.
For practical guidance on reading business signals and making smarter decisions as a consumer or small business owner, Small Business Byte covers these topics in plain language.
What This Means If You’re a Shopper, Employee, or Investor
If you’re a regular shopper wondering whether to buy a Ross gift card or plan your next shopping trip there, the current picture looks stable. The company is adding locations, not removing them. Your existing store is unlikely to close unless you hear a specific local announcement about that address.
If you’re an employee or considering a job at Ross, a company that’s actively opening new stores typically needs more staff — in new locations and in support roles. That’s a reasonable signal for near-term job availability.
If you’re an investor, the standard advice applies: look at the most recent 10-K annual report and quarterly earnings releases on Ross’s investor relations page. Those documents will show you revenue trends, store count changes, and management’s stated outlook — all in one place, directly from the company.
Red Flags to Watch For — If Things Ever Do Change
Being clear-eyed means knowing what to watch for in the future, even when current conditions are fine. Here’s a simple checklist of genuine warning signs:
- A public announcement of large-scale store closures across multiple states
- A Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in federal court
- Chain-wide liquidation signage or “store closing” sales at most locations simultaneously
- A dramatic earnings warning or stock exchange notice
- Consistent negative net store count over multiple years
None of those indicators are present today. But knowing what they look like means you’ll be able to make an informed call if anything changes — rather than reacting to a photo someone posted on Facebook.
The Bottom Line
Ross Stores is not going out of business. The company opened 17 new stores at the start of 2026 and has a stated target of roughly 110 new locations before the year is out. Its business model — off-price retail — tends to hold up well in exactly the kind of economic environment we’re currently in.
The rumors trace back to real events: the temporary, COVID-driven closures in 2020 and the occasional individual store that closes for local reasons. Neither of those is evidence of a company in collapse.
When you hear that a retailer is “going out of business,” look for specific, verifiable signals — bankruptcy filings, mass closures, liquidation sales. With Ross, what you find instead is an expansion plan.
That’s the actual data. It’s not complicated once you know where to look.
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