Store Expansion News: March update
Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in March with store expansions and new formats.
Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent.
- Walmart to make $6 billion investment in Mexico; adding 1,500 stores by 2030 Walmart de México y Centroamérica (Walmex) plans to invest more than $6 billion in Mexico in 2025 to expand operations with new stores, generating approximately 5,500 direct jobs. The new locations will join the more than 3,200 stores Walmex currently operates in all 32 states of Mexico.
- Dutch Bros to open 1,000 new shops by 2029; expands long-term goal to 7,000 The fast-growing drive-thru coffee chain, which unveiled its 1,000th outpost in February, says its goal is reaching 2,029 shops by 2029. Looking further out, Dutch Bros now sees the potential for 7,000-plus locations nationwide, up from its previous estimate of 4,000 shops. (In February, the company said it expected to open "at least" 160 new shops in 2025.)
- Academy hits 300 stores; expands into two East Coast states The Texas-based sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer has surpassed 300 stores after opening in York, Pa., Harrisburg, Pa. and Hagerstown, Md. These stores mark Academy's first locations in Pennsylvania and Maryland, increasing the retailer's footprint to 21 states.
- Advance Auto Parts plans new stores after closing hundreds of locations The automotive aftermarket parts retailer said it has completed the store closure phase of its transformation plan and is entering its "next phase of returning to growth." Advance Auto expects to open 30 new U.S. locations in 2025, and at least an additional 100 new locations through 2027, including larger “market hubs.”
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- Five Below to open 150 stores; focusing on core price points The extreme discount retailer is continuing its expansion, with plans to open 150 new stores this year. Five Below opened a record 228 stores across 39 states in 2024, including entry into its 44th state, Wyoming. It ended the year with 1,771 stores across the U.S.
- Meijer expanding in May — here’s where The Midwest grocer is opening three new locations on May 8 in Northeast Ohio, increasing its store count in the state to 58. The new 159,000-sq.-ft. supercenters are located in Austintown, Medina and Richmond Heights.
- Wayfair to open 150,000-sq.-ft. store in Atlanta in 2026 The online home furnishings giant will open its second large-format store, at The District at Howell Mill shopping center in Atlanta. Set to open in 2026, the 150,000-sq.-ft. space will offer an immersive, one-stop shopping destination for all things home.
- First Look: Bath & Body Works rolling out updated store design The personal care and home fragrance retailer has opened more than 15 stores with the new design, dubbed Gingham+, including five in Texas. Bath & Body Works plans to roll out the design in a majority of its new store openings in the U.S. in 2025.
- Uniqlo plans slate of new Canadian stores The Japanese apparel retailer will open four new Canadian locations in the coming months, with two stores in Ontario and two in Quebec. Following the openings, Uniqlo will operate 33 Canadian locations.
- Ross details 2025 store expansion The off-price retailer opened 16 Ross Dress for Less and three DD’s Discounts stores in 14 different states in March. These new locations are part of the company's plans to add approximately 90 new stores, comprised of about 80 Ross and 10 DD’s Discounts, during fiscal 2025.
- Wendy's plans 1,000 new locations by 2028 The quick-serve hamburger chain plans to add 1,000 net new restaurants globally by 2028, reaching between 8,100 and 8,300 total. Wendy’s says it will invest in “key markets” and “globalize” its supply chain to build stronghold positions to fuel growth at scale.
