Although a lot of this is due to the online retail trend, it is still alarming to see such stalwart institutions shuttering so many stores.
But even giant Montgomery Ward closed in better times.
Back in the early 80s I worked in the wholesale construction supply industry. My client got hired by Montgomery Ward to remodel one of their stores. I got to know the MG rep pretty well and he told me they were renovating every store in the country. It was only a few years later that they shut down.
Regarding Montgomery Ward’s, remember that the third biggest retailer in America was gobbled up by Mobil Oil who quickly turned them into the tenth biggest retailer.