Nike accelerates US retail pullback with abrupt closures in North Carolina and California
The company shut down locations in Cary and San Jose in July 2026, marking the latest phase of a corporate overhaul launched in April that has already seen 1,400 job cuts and the termination of its fitness venture.
Nike has closed two additional retail locations in the United States as part of its ongoing national retail strategy. The American sneaker manufacturer confirmed the shutdowns of stores in Cary, North Carolina, and San Jose, California, in July 2026. These closures follow a broader restructuring plan launched by the company in April 2026, which has previously resulted in store shutdowns, the termination of the Nike Fitness Studios venture with FitLab, the consolidation of tech offices, and approximately 1,400 layoffs.
The closure of the Nike store at the Fenton shopping centre in Cary occurred abruptly on 16 July 2026. The location, which opened in June 2022, was originally scheduled to remain open until 31 July. The shopping centre notified The News & Observer that the early exit was part of Nike’s broader national retail strategy. A message posted on the store’s webpage stated it was closed for the next seven days, with no confirmation provided regarding a potential reopening. The centre has expressed strong interest in leasing the former space.
Simultaneously, Nike ceased operations at its store in the Santana Row shopping district in San Jose. The company did not disclose the final day of operation for this location, but the site’s webpage similarly displayed a seven-day closure notice. Federal Realty, the operator of Santana Row, told the Silicon Valley Business Journal that the departure provides an opportunity to refresh the property with new concepts that reflect current retail trends.
These retail adjustments are part of a significant business model shift initiated in April 2026. In addition to store closures, Nike discontinued its Nike Fitness Studios venture, launched in 2023 with gym partner FitLab. FitLab co-founder Brian Kirkbride stated that the majority of Nike Studios locations would transition to FitLab’s owned portfolio of fitness brands, including Y7, Racked, Mile High Run Club, and XPT. The company also consolidated its technology offices into two hubs: its Oregon headquarters and the Nike India Technology Center.
The restructuring has had substantial workforce implications. The consolidation of tech offices was tied to approximately 1,400 layoffs across Nike’s Global Operations team, representing just under 2 percent of its global workforce. The retail footprint has also contracted significantly, with Nike permanently closing a 55,000-square-foot location in New York in January 2026. The company has not revealed the total number of stores it plans to close under its current strategy.
