Store Expansion News: January update
Retailers and restaurant chains alike kicked off 2026 by making headlines in January with store expansions and new formats.
Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent.
•Starbucks to open 150 to 175 U.S. stores in 2026; sees 'big' long-term opportunity The coffee giant expects to open approximately 600 to 650 net new cafes this year, including 150 to 175 U.S. company-operated stores and 450 to 500 international locations. China, Starbucks’ largest market outside of the U.S., comprises close to half of the international total.
•Target to open seven stores in March — here’s where The discounter is opening seven stores in March, including two new locations each in California and New Jersey. The new outposts are part of the 30-plus stores that Target plans to open this year – and the more than 300 new stores the company is on track to build by 2035.
•Sprouts touches down in New York with Long Island store The natural and organic grocer opened its first location in the state of New York on Jan. 30, with a store in Centereach on Long Island. Sprouts’ debut in New York is just one of several new openings planned for the year’s first quarter.
•Smoothie King plots 90-plus new openings for 2026 The world’s largest smoothie franchise says it plans to open more than 90 new stores in 2026. Smoothie King is also launching a targeted franchisee incentive program spanning several key states, including Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and more, to fuel expansion. In 2025, Smoothie King opened 74 new stores.
•Paris Baguette plots big expansion for 2026 — and beyond Currently operating more than 280 locations across North America, Paris Baguette expects to open 150 new cafés in 2026, with expansion planned for 10 new U.S. states, Canadian provinces and territories. The company has set a long-term goal is to reach 1,000 North American locations by 2030.
•Global home improvement brand Vevor to make U.S. physical debut China-based brand Vevor will open its first-ever U.S. store in Houston on Feb. 9, with an assortment that includes a wide selection of tools, gardening equipment and home improvement products. The 32,000-sq.-ft. Houston flagship is built around a buy online, pick up in-store model that connects Vevor’s digital platform with a “solution-driven in-store experience.”
•Pop Mart plots 2026 growth — here's where The trending Asian toy and collectibles retailer will open at more than 20 Simon Property Group malls and outlet centers across the country this year, including at one of Simon’s largest properties – King of Prussia. Fueled by the recent Labubu collectible trend, Pop Mart has been expanding its footprint, and now operates more than 60 brick-and-mortar locations in the Americas.
•Aldi to open 180-plus stores in 2026, launch new e-commerce site The discount grocery giant plans to open more than 180 new stores across 31 states this year, pushing it closer to its goal of 3,200 stores by the end of 2028. Aldi also announced plans to open three new distribution centers within the next three years.
•Jersey Mike's plans massive European expansion — here's where The fast-growing chain has signed a franchise agreement with JM Submarines UK LTD, led by Jersey Mike's founder and chairman of the board Peter Cancro, to open 400 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The agreement marks the first European expansion for Jersey Mike’s, with plans to open the first location in 2026.
•Footwear brand Vessi makes brick-and-mortar debut in U.S. The Vancouver, B.C.-based company opened its first physical retail store on Jan. 7 at Bellevue Square in Bellevue, Wash., located outside of Seattle. The location features Vessi’s full lineup of lightweight men’s, women’s and kid’s footwear built with the brand's proprietary Dyma-tex waterproof knit technology, as well as select outwear.
