CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In a dramatic shake-up, Kohl’s is slamming the doors shut on 27 “underperforming” locations across 15 states this Saturday, with two Ohio stores in the Cincinnati area caught in the crosshairs. The Wisconsin-based retail giant, reeling from a brutal 9.4% sales plunge in Q4 2024 and a 7.2% drop for the year, is slashing costs and rethinking its strategy—leaving shoppers and employees scrambling. Adding fuel to the fire, Kohl’s is also axing 10% of its corporate workforce and pulling Amazon return services from select stores, signaling a full-scale retreat from a faltering playbook. Analysts predict a grim 2% net sales dip for 2025, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

While the closures hit hard, Chillicothe breathes a sigh of relief—its Kohl’s store remains open, though whispers of future cuts loom large. “It’s not closing as of now, but it could be on the chopping block down the line,” a store insider hinted, leaving Ross County on edge.

Here’s the rundown:

The two Ohio casualties are both in the Cincinnati orbit:

  • Blue Ash: 4150 Hunt Road
  • Forest Park (Cincinnati): 100 Cincinnati Mills Dr.

The full list of 27 doomed stores spans the country:

  • Alabama
    • Spanish Fort: 21000 Town Center Ave.
  • Arkansas
    • Little Rock West: 13909 Chenal Pkwy.
  • California
    • Balboa (San Diego): 5505 Balboa Ave.
    • Encinitas: 134 N El Camino Real
    • Fremont: 43782 Christy St.
    • Mountain View: 350 Showers Drive
    • Napa: 1116 1st St.
    • Pleasanton: 4525 Rosewood Drive
    • Point West (Sacramento): 1896 Arden Way
    • San Rafael: 5010 Northgate Drive
    • San Luis Obispo: 205 Madonna Road
    • Westchester: 8739 S Sepulveda Blvd.
  • Colorado
    • Arapahoe Crossing (Aurora): 6584 S Parker Road
  • Georgia
    • Duluth: 2050 W Liddell Road
  • Idaho
    • Boise: 400 N Milwaukee St.
  • Illinois
    • Plainfield: 11860 S Route 59
    • Spring Hill (West Dundee): 3000 Spring Hill Ring Road
  • Massachusetts
    • Stoughton: 501 Technology Center Drive
  • New Jersey
    • East Windsor: 72 Princeton Hightstown Road
  • Ohio
    • Blue Ash: 4150 Hunt Road
    • Forest Park (Cincinnati): 100 Cincinnati Mills Drive
  • Oregon
    • Portland Gateway: 10010 NE Halsey St.
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pottstown: 351 W Schuylkill Road
  • Texas
    • North Dallas: 18224 Preston Road
  • Utah
    • Riverton: 13319 S 3600 W
  • Virginia
    • Herndon: 2100 Centreville Road
    • Williamsburg: 100 Gristmill Plaza

Ohio’s Kohl’s Footprint

Kohl’s still clings to 60 stores statewide out of its 1,150 nationwide, with outposts in Akron, North Canton, five in the Cincinnati area, and two in Columbus. Chillicothe’s store stands firm—for now—amid the chaos.

The retailer’s pivot away from Amazon returns, once a lifeline for foot traffic, is also raising eyebrows. A test run dropping the service at select locations has left Ohio shoppers wondering if their stores are next. As Kohl’s battles to survive a retail apocalypse, all eyes are on whether Chillicothe dodges the axe—or becomes the next victim in this corporate carnage.