Free Republic

It boggles my mind to see the American National Anthem replaced in Prince William County, Virginia, by the recitation of the Equity Code, a Marxist creation by the woke revolutionaries As more brick-and-mortar stores are filing for bankruptcy, desperate to keep their stores open, merchandise variety is dwindling, and shopping experiences become more and more unpleasant. Grocery stores could not keep their shelves stocked in 2020, in part due to food hoarding driven by ginned-up fear, government forced closures, and wholesalers and packing plants shuttering due to mandated closings and flu-infected employees.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports is closing nearly half its 942 stores as it struggles to draw consumers and compete online. The home decor company said Monday it is closing up to 450 stores and will also shutter distribution centers. It didn't say where the store closures would occur, but it operates stores in the U.S. and Canada. Pier 1 also plans layoffs at its corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. There are seven Pier 1 locations in the Pittsburgh area. We’re working to find out if any of those are on the closure list. The company didn’t...

Toys "R" Us is going out of business in the U.S. The iconic chain announced early Thursday that it's seeking bankruptcy court approval to start closing its 735 U.S. stores and liquidating their inventory. Some 33,000 employees will lose their jobs as a result. Toys "R" Us Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Brandon said in a statement, "I am very disappointed with the result, but we no longer have the financial support to continue the Company's U.S. operations."

Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue, as sales in the U.S. market rose and the retailing giant kept a lid on costs. Shares of Wal-Mart closed up more than 9 percent Thursday. The company posted first-quarter earnings per share of 98 cents, versus $1.03 a share in the year-earlier period. Revenue for the quarter came in at $115.9 billion, against the comparable year-earlier figure of $114.83 billion. Analysts polled by Reuters expected the retail giant to report earnings per share of 88 cents on revenue of $113.22 billion.

In today's Wall Street Journal, Thaddeus Herrick reports on the continued concern about the fate of several landmarks in Houston. This time, though, there is a solid statement about the developments:David Deason, vice president for development at Barnes & Noble, said the New York-based company intends to close the Bookstop in favor of a "state of the art" facility. But Mr. Deason said the fate of the landmarks is in the hands of Weingarten. The statement in itself may not be so threatening; the Alabama Theater could just acquire a new tenant. If we know Weingarten, though (and we think...