FLORIDA - While the "snowbirds" are still flocking to the Sunshine State, the retail landscape is facing a stormy February. A combination of bankruptcy fallout, lease expirations, and corporate restructuring is hitting Florida particularly hard this month, with closures affecting everything from furniture giants to neighborhood pharmacies.Here are the four major retail chains shrinking their Florida footprint in February.
1. Big Lots
The most significant story in Florida retail this month is the widespread closure of Big Lots locations. Following bankruptcy proceedings, a specific wave of closures is tied to leases that expired at the end of January 2026, leading to dark storefronts this February.
- Locations to Watch: The closure list is extensive, impacting stores in Boca Raton (State Road 7), Coconut Creek (Coconut Creek Pkwy), Destin, Hallandale Beach, and three separate locations in the Orlando metro area (including S. Orange Blossom Trail).
- The Deal: For shoppers in these areas, February marks the end of the liquidation sales. The exit from these markets creates significant vacancies in strip malls that relied on Big Lots as a secondary anchor.
2. Conn's HomePlus (and Badcock Home Furniture)
The collapse of Conn's HomePlus—which acquired the Florida staple Badcock Home Furniture & More—is being felt acutely across the state. The bankruptcy liquidation is resulting in a total exit for the brand in many markets.
- The Impact: This is a "double whammy" for Florida. Badcock was a historic brand in the state (founded in Mulberry, FL) that served many rural and suburban communities. The conversion to Conn's and subsequent bankruptcy mean that many small towns are losing their primary furniture and appliance showroom this month.
- The Status: "Everything Must Go" events are winding down, with empty showrooms expected by the end of the month.
3. Walgreens
Florida has one of the highest densities of Walgreens locations in the country, often with stores on opposing corners. As the company executes its plan to close 1,200 stores nationally to improve profitability, the Sunshine State is a primary target for consolidation.
- The Strategy: The company is targeting locations that are too close to each other or that face high theft rates. February brings a quiet "thinning of the herd" in metro areas like Miami and Jacksonville, where customers are being directed to newer locations blocks away.
- The Reality: For elderly residents who rely on a specific walkable corner store, these consolidations are adding friction to access to prescriptions.
4. TGI Fridays
The "casual dining crisis" claims more victims this month as TGI Fridays continues to shrink its footprint. After shuttering locations in Royal Palm Beach, Ormond Beach, and Miami Beach in late 2025/early 2026, the brand is struggling to maintain its remaining Florida presence.
The Trend: The chain has dwindled to single digits in the state, a shocking decline for a brand once a Friday-night staple.
The Vibe: The closures reflect a broader shift in Florida dining, where consumers are pivoting toward fast-casual concepts (like Chipotle) or locally owned upscale spots, leaving the "middle ground" chains behind.
February 2026 is a difficult month for Florida's legacy retail sector. The most immediate impact comes from Big Lots, which is leaving substantial holes in the shopping centers of Boca Raton and Orlando due to lease expirations. Simultaneously, the bankruptcy liquidation of Conn's/Badcock marks the sad end of a historic Florida furniture brand. Combined with the strategic thinning of Walgreens and the continued decline of TGI Fridays, the State commercial corridors are seeing a rapid evolution away from the big-box and chain dominance of the past decades.
