Here is the breakdown of the retail shakeup hitting Mississippi in 2026.
The "Total Exit": Conn's HomePlus
The most visible scar on Mississippi's retail landscape in 2026 is the collapse of Conn's HomePlus.
- The Closures: The Texas-based furniture and electronics giant is liquidating its key stores in Mississippi.
- Southaven: The massive showroom at 570 Main St is shuttering, dealing a blow to the bustling DeSoto County corridor.
- Jackson: The capital city location is also going dark.
- The Impact: These aren't small shops; they are 40,000-square-foot anchors. Their exit leaves "ghost boxes" in prime shopping centers, forcing landlords to scramble to fill vacancies in a market already oversaturated with retail space.
The Coastal Wipeout: Big Lots
For residents of the Gulf Coast, 2026 is the year the "bargain hunt" gets harder.
- The Hit List: Big Lots is executing an aggressive retreat from the coast. Confirmed closures include:
- D'Iberville: The store on D'Iberville Blvd.
- Gulfport: The Hardy Court Center location.
- Pascagoula: The Denny Ave store.
- The Reality: This is a near-total wipeout of the chain's coastal footprint. For working-class families in Harrison and Jackson counties, Big Lots was a go-to for affordable furniture and pantry staples. Its departure forces shoppers toward Walmart or more expensive specialty stores.
The Delta & Central Squeeze: Family Dollar
In Mississippi's rural and semi-rural towns, the Family Dollar is often the primary grocery source.
- The Contraction: As the chain closes 1,000 stores nationwide, Mississippi's list of "at-risk" and closing locations is growing.
- The Locations: Stores in Canton, Clinton, Columbus, and Jackson (Siwell Rd) have been impacted by the contraction strategy.
- The Crisis: In the Delta, where transportation is a barrier, the loss of a Family Dollar is a food security issue. It removes the only walkable access to diapers, cleaning supplies, and non-perishable food, exacerbating the State existing "food desert" crisis.
The "Jackson" Watch: Retail Flight
The capital city continues to fight a battle against retail flight.
- The Trend: With national chains like Conn's and Family Dollar pulling back, the pressure on Jackson's remaining corridors (like I-55 North) is intensifying.
- The Local Toll: It isn't just chains; the closure of long-standing local spots (continuing the trend from the Bonsai closure) signals that independent operators are struggling to absorb skyrocketing insurance and utility costs. 2026 is viewed as a "make or break" year for the few remaining legacy retailers in the city core.
The furniture giants are leaving Southaven. The discount stores are vanishing from the Coast. And the neighborhood general stores in Canton are locking their doors. The convenience of "down the street" shopping is fading, replaced by a reliance on long drives and delivery apps.
Bonsai Japanese Steakhouse in Jackson closing May 2025