Imagine taking a stroll around the mall one day only to see your favorite store shut down. Recently, this situation has become reality for many people.

Over the past few years, online shopping has increased in popularity. According to Chris Isidore and Nathaniel Meyersohn’s CNN article, people would rather shop online because you don’t have to leave your home to purchase your desired goods. Thus, retail stores have little choice but to shut down because they don’t get enough business.

Isidore and Meyersohn also explained that retail stores have been closing even with a stable economy, so if there is another recession, retail businesses will be in trouble. The job market would also be affected, since over 15 million jobs reside in the retail field. More stores closing means more layoffs.

This year, U.S. retailers have announced more than 8,200 store closings, which is higher than the 2017 number of 6,700. The tragedy of store closings struck today’s generation hard when Forever 21 announced their bankruptcy and their plans to close 180 stores across the U.S. In fact, one of the stores scheduled for closing is in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. Forever 21 is the spot to shop for all ages, and this bankruptcy news has been all over social media.

It is sad to admit, but the U.S. is having a retail apocalypse, and it’s all due to not enough business, so unless you want your local mall to be a ghost town, you’d better start shopping.

Image by Joseph Clemson