Disney to Shutter 60 N.A. Retail Stores

The world’s biggest licensor plans to focus retail efforts on e-commerce.

March 4, 2021

The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to close down at least 60 of its brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. and Canada in an effort to focus more heavily on e-commerce retail.

“Over the next year, Disney will focus on providing a more seamless, personalized and franchise-focused e-commerce experience through its shopDisney platform, which will be complemented by greater integration with Disney Parks apps and social media platforms,” a company statement read. “This will be coupled with an assortment of new and elevated merchandise from the company’s full range of brands, including adult apparel collections and artist collaborations, trend-forward streetwear, premium home products and collectibles.”

The company’s more-focused pivot to e-commerce is intended to better meet consumers where they are, according to the statement.

“While consumer behavior has shifted toward online shopping, the global pandemic has changed what consumers expect from a retailer,” said Stephanie Young, president,

Disney Consumer Products Games and Publishing, via the statement. “Over the past few years, we’ve been focused on meeting consumers where they are already spending their time, such as the expansion of Disney store shop-in-shops around the world. We now plan to create a more flexible, interconnected e-commerce experience that gives consumers easy access to unique, high-quality products across all our franchises.”

Though no details are available at this time about which stores will ultimately close, “guests will continue to have access to Disney shopping experiences in 600-plus Disney Parks stores, shop-in-shops, lifestyle and outlet locations, as well as third party retailers around the world.”

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