Kohl’s CEO Michael Bender Halts New Store Closures, Prioritizes Optimization

Kohl’s CEO Michael Bender announced no further store closures in 2026, focusing instead on optimizing over 90% of currently profitable stores. This decision follows last year’s closure of 27 locations amid challenges from online and off-price competitors. Going forward, Kohl’s plans to leverage its digital traffic and inventory improvements to stabilize sales and enhance profitability without expanding or closing more stores.