What’s next for the retail industry? 10 retailers closing stores in 2018

1. SAM’S CLUB

Sam's Club store locations closed across the nation, including some in Ohio. Two Sam's Club stores in Cincinnati have permanently closed without notice, WCPO reports. No stores were impacted in the Dayton region. Read the full story here.

2. ELDER-BEERMAN

Bon-Ton Stores Inc., parent company of Elder-Beerman, liquidated all of its stores. Only one store in Ohio will shut down. Elder-Beerman at the Northtowne Mall in Defiance was named as one of the impacted stores. No Elder-Beerman stores in the Dayton region are impacted by this round of store closures. The stores are expected to close in early 2018. Read more about a Bon-Ton distribution center likely to close in Fairborn.

3. TOYS ‘R’ US

The nation's largest toy store retailer received court approval to move forward with its plans to shutter approximately 180 stores across its Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores nationwide. Liquidation sales at some of the locations started on Wednesday. The Babies "R" Us location at 2661 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in Dayton is one of four Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores in Ohio that are set to close. The other three Ohio locations to be shuttered are in Dublin, Mentor and Western Hills near Cincinnati. Read more about local store closing.

4. KMART & SEARS

Sears Holdings, which owns Kmart and Sears stores, informed associates that another 45 Kmart stores and 18 Sears stores would close in late January. Five Kmart locations in Ohio were identified as impacted stores. No Sears locations in Ohio were impacted by this round of closures. Sears Holdings already closed more than 350 stores in 2017. Read more about the shuttering of the stores.

5. MACY’S

Macy's has identified 68 locations that will close in early 2017, including three stores in Ohio. Macy's will close locations in Columbus, Sandusky and Steubenville. More than 193 employees will be impacted in Ohio. The retailer also announced it would close its downtown Cincinnati location. Read more about the closures.

6. J.C. PENNEY 

J.C. Penney announced in February that it would close another eight stores this year. The retailer shuttered about 140 stores throughout 2017. The closure of the eight stores eliminates 480 jobs. Read more about Ohio J.C. Penney closures.

7. WALGREENS 

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. announced in 2017 it would close 600 Rite Aid stores as part of its deal to acquire the drugstore chain. Illinois-based Walgreens agreed to purchase 1,932 stores, three distribution centers and related inventory from Rite Aid for an all-cash purchase price of $4.375 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Read more about the deal.

8. GYMBOREE

A children's clothing retailer is closing 350 stores, including locations in Dayton and Cincinnati, the retailer announced in 2017. Gymboree announced the company will close approximately 11 stores will close in Ohio and 350 across the U.S. Gymboree also operates Janie and Jack stores and Crazy 8 stores. Read more about the store closures.

9. GAP 

Gap Inc. will close approximately 200 "underperforming" Gap and Banana Republic stores within the next three years, the company announced last year. The clothing company, which owns stores like Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, outlined its long-term strategy for the next three years. In addition to closing the 200 stores, it will open about 270 Old Navy and Athleta stores across the country. Read more about the plan.

10. ANN TAYLOR, LOFT, DRESS BARN 

Ascena Retail Group owns retailers like Lane Bryant, Ann Taylor, Loft and Dress Barn. The group said it will close up to 667 stores through 2019. About 160 stores have already closed. Read more about the local impact.