Dive Brief:
- Pushing forward with its brick-and-mortar expansion, Ross Stores opened 17 stores so far in February and March.
- The openings included 13 Ross stores and four DD’s Discounts locations, according to a Monday announcement.
- The stores are part of Ross’s broader plans to open 110 new locations in fiscal 2026, including 85 Ross stores and 25 DD’s Discounts.
Dive Insight:
Ross Stores has been steadily adding to its brick-and-mortar footprint over the past several years.
Ross opened a total of 90 stores in 2025, 40 of which came over a two-month period. The retailer acquired a number of bankrupt Rite Aid locations last year, mostly in its West Coast markets. Ross is also refreshing a number of its existing stores.
"We are thrilled to kick off our 2026 expansion with new stores that bring great value to our customers and new jobs to communities across the country," Richard Lietz, executive vice president of property development for Ross Stores, said in a statement. “Following strong new store performance in 2025, these openings build on that momentum. ... Looking forward, we remain confident in our long-term growth potential and see a clear path to 2,900 Ross locations and 700 DD's Discounts stores across the country.”
Ross currently has 1,917 Ross Stores in 44 states and 366 DD’s Discounts in 23 states.
The store openings announcement followed the retailer’s fourth quarter and full-year earnings report. In Q4, sales rose 12% to $6.6 billion, while comparable store sales increased 9%. For the full year, sales increased 8% to $22.8 billion, with comp store sales up 5%.
“While the first half presented challenges amid a dynamic macroeconomic environment, including the impact of tariffs and broader consumer uncertainty, we remained focused on executing our strategy and managing the business with discipline,” CEO Jim Conroy said in a statement. “As the year progressed, underlying trends steadily improved, reflecting the strength of our merchandising efforts, enhanced marketing programs, and improved shopping experience."
