GNC to close 900 stores

[TheFugitive]

The CEO of GNC here in Pittsburgh has announced that the company plans to
close around 900 brick-and-mortar locations over the next year.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/gnc-could-close-up-to-900-stores-and-slash-its-mall-location-count-in-half-as-the-retail-apocalypse-roars-on/ar-AAEHGsO?ocid=spartanntp

Among reasons cited were that mall traffic "has not rebounded and shows no signs of rebounding anytime soon".

I would add that vitamins and supplements are perhaps the ideal item to be sold via the internet and home shipping, and that those companies are proving to be far more profitable than GNC with it's huge rent and overhead expenses.

[retailisking]

Among reasons cited were that mall traffic "has not rebounded and shows no signs of rebounding anytime soon".

I wonder how many more failing malls will simply close up shop once stalwarts like GNC call it quits.

[TheFugitive]

Good question.  I know that GNC was one of the last holdouts to bail from
Parkway Center Mall here in Pittsburgh.

[shore72]

I recall going into 2 or 3 nearly-dead malls over the last 20 years and the only chains left were Radio Shack & GNC.

[TheFugitive]

The last survivors at Parkway Center were:

- Phantom of the Opera (a comic book store)
- The Sports Deli (a Pittsburgh-themed sporting apparel store)
- GNC
- A nail salon called 90's Nails (up till 2013!)

[Crazybangles]

Just think of how many malls this will kill!

[JimSawhill]

Vitamin Shoppe will grab some spots, I guess...