WYOMING - The "retail winter" is hitting the Cowboy State hard this month. February 2026 brings a wave of closures that impacts everything from the State largest malls to vital rural general stores, marking the end of the line for several major brands in Wyoming.
Here are the four major retail chains shrinking their Wyoming footprint in February.
1. Big Lots
The final exit from the state.
After the Cheyenne location shuttered in previous rounds of cuts, the Big Lots in Casper (East 2nd Street) is finally turning off the lights. This closure marks the retailer's total departure from the Wyoming market following its complex bankruptcy restructuring.
- The Status: February serves as the final "clean sweep" for the Casper location. Shoppers can expect discounts of 70-90% on remaining furniture and pantry items as the store races to vacate the building by the end of the month.
- The Impact: This leaves a large retail box vacant on one of Casper's busiest corridors and removes a primary discount furniture option for residents in Natrona County.
2. Carter's
A blow to Frontier Mall.
In a move that surprises many parents, the children's apparel giant Carter's is shrinking its physical presence in 2026. The company has identified its Frontier Mall location in Cheyenne for closure as part of a national strategy to offset rising tariff costs and operational expenses.
- The Trend: While the brand remains strong online, this closure highlights the ongoing struggles of mall-based specialty retail.
- The Deal: "Store Closing" sales are active throughout February, offering significant markdowns on baby and toddler apparel before the location goes dark.
3. Family Dollar
Rural hubs lose a general store.
As parent company Dollar Tree continues to prune its portfolio of 1,000+ stores, Wyoming's rural communities are feeling the pinch. February brings the closure of "underperforming" Family Dollar locations in smaller markets, with stores in Rawlins and Riverton flagged for potential lease non-renewals.
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The Reality: In many Wyoming towns, Family Dollar serves as a de facto grocery store. These closures force residents to drive significantly further to Walmart or regional grocers for basic household necessities, widening the "retail desert" in the central part of the state.
4. GameStop
White Mountain Mall loses a tenant.
The slow retreat of physical video game retail continues in 2026. GameStop is executing a new round of closures this quarter, and the location at White Mountain Mall in Rock Springs is on the list.
- The Vibe: This continues the retailer's pivot to e-commerce and the closing of stores in "B-tier" malls.
- The Result: For gamers in Sweetwater County, the loss of this hub means the end of local midnight release events and the ability to trade in physical discs locally, pushing the hobby almost entirely digital for the region.
February 2026 is a month of finality for Wyoming retail. The total exit of Big Lots from the state and the departure of Carter's from Cheyenne's Frontier Mall signal that national chains are increasingly pulling back from lower-population-density areas, leaving states with lower population density behind. The loss of Family Dollar stores in towns like Rawlins is perhaps the most damaging to daily life, as it removes essential shopping options for rural residents. Meanwhile, the closure of GameStop in Rock Springs reflects the broader tech shift that is slowly rendering physical media shops obsolete in smaller markets.