Tractor Supply’s Petsense closing three stores in region

Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Company recently announced plans to close more than 70 Petsense stores nationwide, including three total in Sarasota and Polk counties. The pet supply stores in the region set to shutter are in Nokomis, Lakeland and Auburndale, according to a Tractor Supply spokesperson, who says the company is closing eight Florida stores overall. The other Florida stores set to close are in Fort Pierce, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Mount Dora and Ocala.

All of the Petsense stores that the company is winding down are “underperforming” and have negative cash flow, Tractor Supply Company CEO Hal Lawton said during a July 23 earnings call.

“We will be able to use that negative four-wall cash flow once we shut those stores down and reinvest that back into the core of our business,” Lawton said. “After that, we think we'll have a very strong, profitable Petsense business.”

The company’s second-quarter results included $65.8 million in impairment and other charges related to the Petsense restructuring.

An employee at the Nokomis Petsense in Sarasota County said the store off US 41 near Laurel Road is likely going to close by October. It is currently discounting its inventory, which ranges from leashes, treats and toys to aquariums, pet food and carriers.

“The affected stores will remain open during a wind-down process over the next eight to 10 weeks,” a spokesperson for Petsense by Tractor Supply says in an Aug. 10 statement in response to questions from the Business Observer. “Our immediate focus is taking care of the team members who are affected by these closures. We are working hard to transfer them to roles at other Petsense or Tractor Supply stores wherever possible.”

Tractor Supply says it has 209 Petsense stores across 23 states as of June 27. The company also operates more than 24,000 Tractor Supply stores across 49 states and has over 54,000 employees. Tractor Supply Company posted $15.5 billion in sales in 2025.