Here is the breakdown of the retail shakeup hitting Wisconsin in 2026.
The "Hometown" Hit: Pick 'n Save Retreats
The most painful story of 2026 is the contraction of Pick 'n Save. The Roundy's-owned chain (a subsidiary of Kroger) is closing five key locations in the Milwaukee metro area, citing "underperformance."
- The Hit List:
- Glendale: The store on W. Silver Spring Drive.
- Milwaukee (North Side): The N. 35th Street location.
- South Side/Suburbs: Stores in South Milwaukee (Chicago Ave), Oak Creek (Ryan Rd), and on S. 27th Street.
- The Impact: For many of these neighborhoods, Pick 'n Save wasn't just a store; it was the primary source of fresh food. The closure of the 35th Street location, in particular, has sparked fears of a deepening "food desert" in a community that can ill afford to lose a full-service grocer.
The "Zombie" End Game: Northridge Is Gone
After decades of legal battles, fires, and decay, the Northridge Mall saga is over.
- The Status: As of 2026, the physical structure has been completely demolished. The site at Brown Deer Road and 76th Street is now a graded, empty lot awaiting sale.
- The Future: While the "Granville Station" redevelopment plan promises light industrial and mixed-use housing, the reality for 2026 is a massive void. The city has finally won the war against the "zombie mall," but now it must figure out how to rebuild an economic engine from scratch.
The Discount Wipeout: Big Lots
The collapse of the home discount sector is hitting Wisconsin's mid-sized cities.
- The Closures: Big Lots is shrinking its footprint aggressively. Confirmed closures include:
- Janesville: The store at 1800 Milton Ave is shuttering.
- Eau Claire: The Hamilton Ave location is going dark.
- The Reality: These closures leave 30,000-square-foot holes in strip centers that are already fighting to retain national tenants. For bargain hunters in these cities, the exit removes a key option for affordable furniture and mattresses.
The Pharmacy Desert: Walgreens
Walgreens is continuing its "store footprint optimization" in its neighboring state.
- The Closures: The chain has shuttered its locations at 76th & Mill (Milwaukee) and Memorial Drive (Racine).
- The Trend: These closures follow a national pattern of cutting stores that are close to competitors or other Walgreens locations. However, for the elderly residents who walked to these specific corners for their prescriptions, the "optimization" feels more like abandonment.
The "Racine" Pivot: Regency Mall
While Northridge is gone, Regency Mall in Racine is attempting a radical surgery to survive 2026.
- The Transformation: The mall is effectively being "de-malled." The arrival of a massive Woodman’s Market on the site signals the new direction: groceries and apartments are replacing fashion anchors.
- The Verdict: It’s a survival strategy, but it confirms that the days of Regency Mall serving as a regional fashion hub are officially over.
The luxury malls like Mayfair are fine. But the middle-market infrastructure—the neighborhood Pick 'n Save, the corner drugstore, and the discount furniture box—is crumbling. The convenience of the "quick run to the store" is disappearing, forcing residents to drive further to find the brands they once took for granted.
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