Local closures expected as Advance Auto, Red Robin shutter stores

Advance Auto Parts is joining the growing list of retailers shuttering stores in Florida, and the burger chain Red Robin could soon join it.

The Raleigh, North Carolina-based parts retailer reiterated its plans to shut down underperforming stores in an end-of-year earnings report released last week, with its CEO saying 500 corporate-owned stores would be closing under a restructuring plan.

The company had said in November it was also closing 200 independently owned stores as well as four distribution centers. It currently operates 4,788 stores, with about 38 along the Gulf Coast.

The company did not disclose which stores in Florida had or would soon close in the earnings reportl, nor did a spokesperson respond to a request for a list.

“During 2024, we initiated transformative actions to reposition Advance for long-term success and value creation,” said company President and CEO Shane O’Kelly in the earnings statement.

“We strengthened our focus on the blended-box by divesting non-core assets, closing non-strategic stores and right-sizing our organization.”

(Blended box is a retail strategy that combines both physical store shopping experiences and online shopping experience. O’Kelly told the repair industry publication Shop Owner last year that he sees the strategy as a way to reach both DIY and professional customers.)

Meanwhile, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers President and CEO G.J. Hart said in its fourth quarter and end-of-year earnings statement last week that it had closed one location last year but was “evaluating alternatives for approximately 70 underperforming restaurant locations, including closure upon expiration of the current lease term.”

The burger chain has 13 locations in Florida. Of those, there is one each in Brandon, Tampa, Fort Myers, Wesley Chapel and Clearwater.

Red Robin has 498 restaurants — 407 corporate owned and 91 franchised — in 13 states and one in Canada.

The decision by the two chains to shut down locations will only exacerbate the growing number of empty retail spaces across the region. Just in the past year Macy’s has announced the closing of two stores at local malls: Walgreen’s has announced it is shutting down 1,200 stores nationwide; Conn’s, which bought Polk County-based W.S. Badcock, has closed all of its stores; and Express closed almost 100 stores.

Big Lots also closed most of its local stores, though its new owner is trying to sell the leases at many locations including 15 stores in the region.

Then just last week Joann announced it was closing all 800 of its stores, 16 along the Gulf Coast, and four distributions centers.