It’s not unusual for people to wonder if their favorite mall store is quietly closing up shop. Every time news breaks of another chain going under, questions start circling. Lately, there’s been some gossip online about Buckle, the denim retailer that’s been a staple in shopping centers for years. Some folks think Buckle might be shutting down for good. So, let’s look at what’s really happening with Buckle and why they’re not on their way out.
Buckle’s Real Situation: Still in the Game
If you’ve heard Buckle is going out of business, there’s good news this simply isn’t true. The company is actually in a pretty healthy spot right now, and there’s data to back this up. While it’s easy to lump every mall brand into the “in trouble” category, Buckle doesn’t fit that mold.
They’re still running over 440 stores across 42 states. That’s a pretty significant footprint for a company that’s been around since the 1970s. Not only that, but Buckle has been adding to that number, not shrinking it.
Current Operations and Financial Health
When you look at the numbers, Buckle is performing better than a lot of its peers. Reports from the company show they’ve opened six new stores just this year through the third quarter of 2026. On top of that, they’ve remodeled 17 of their locations, giving them some much-needed updates.
Financially, things look solid. In their latest filing, Buckle reported net income of $128.9 million for the year-to-date period. That’s a sign that, despite tough news for other retailers, Buckle is managing to stay profitable.
You’ll also notice in malls and shopping centers, the stores themselves are kept up and fully staffed. Walk by any Buckle and you’ll see the sales floor is full, product is moving, and there’s visible investment in keeping the stores fresh.
New Stores and Remodels: Investing for the Future
So what does store expansion actually look like these days for Buckle? Instead of just treading water, the company is clearly betting that physical retail still matters, at least in the denim and casual fashion space.
Those six new stores opened this year weren’t just relocated versions of old ones they were fresh spaces in markets Buckle felt could support their brand. The 17 remodeled stores weren’t just about painting the walls, either. These are full makeovers, with upgraded lighting, refreshing layouts, and improved technology. The goal is to make sure the Buckle experience feels modern and welcoming, even as retail trends shift.
How Buckle Handles Mall Closures
Of course, the retail reality is that malls aren’t what they used to be. Lots of shopping centers face declining traffic, and some have even shut their doors or changed their format. For mall-based retailers, this is a big deal.
But Buckle has been proactive here. When a mall closes, they don’t just abandon the community. Take Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, Idaho, as an example. When the mall announced its demolition, you might expect Buckle to simply pack up. Instead, they shifted just next door to a temporary spot on May 29, 2025. That kept them local and maintained jobs for staff.
Even better, Buckle doesn’t treat these moves as stopgaps. The company committed to building a brand-new standalone store at the Pine Ridge property as part of the mall’s rebuild into an open-air retail center. So, Buckle isn’t letting the decline in traditional malls take them out of the game they’re just adapting.
Buckle’s Product Focus and Strategy
If you’ve shopped at Buckle, you know denim is their bread and butter. The company has really leaned into the premium denim space in recent years, which has helped them stand apart from generic mall retailers. Their Buckle Black Label jeans, for instance, keep bringing loyal shoppers back, even when there’s a lot of competition.
They also carry recognizable higher-end national brands, often at price points that attract more style-conscious customers. This has worked out well. The mix of exclusive Buckle merchandise and established labels keeps a steady flow of repeat traffic.
And Buckle hasn’t ignored the “boring” stuff like logistics and tech. Some of that $128.9 million in net income gets reinvested in store construction, technology upgrades, and updated payment systems. They want checkout to be faster and inventory to be easy to track so both shoppers and staff feel the difference.
Buckle Compared to Other Retailers
The past few years have been rough for mall brands. Some familiar names, like Saks Global, Claire’s (yes, the place you got your ears pierced as a kid), and SSENSE, filed for bankruptcy protection recently. News like this naturally makes people nervous about the fate of every other store at the mall.
But Buckle hasn’t landed on a bankruptcy list, nor has it shown signs of financial distress. If anything, the contrast is sharper now. While some competitors are downsizing, Buckle’s balance sheet shows steady performance. The company keeps opening new locations and refreshing old ones. That’s a different story from the packed-up windows and big “Store Closing” signs popping up elsewhere.
It comes down to a couple of simple factors: Buckle stayed careful with its growth, didn’t over-expand when times were good, and avoided risky bets. When trouble started hitting other stores, Buckle had fewer gaps to fill and a more loyal base of shoppers.
The Role of Store Experience
One reason Buckle seems to be hanging on is the in-store experience. Even as more fashion shopping moves online, nothing really replaces trying on a great-fitting pair of jeans in-person. Buckle’s staff is known for their approach: friendly, knowledgeable, and usually eager to help you find exactly the right look.
That level of service and the ability to touch and see the product helps a lot, especially for things like denim where fit matters. Of course, Buckle has an online store, but the real connection for many shoppers is still inside a physical location.
Since many people remember Buckle as a place you’d go to before a dance, school, or just to freshen up your closet, that nostalgia helps them stick around even as other brands fade.
Community Presence and Local Ties
Some mall brands get a reputation for pulling out the moment business gets slow. Buckle works a bit differently. When stores relocate, like in Chubbuck, they usually look for nearby spots that keep jobs for current staff and maintain their bond to the community.
Buckle often partners with local charities or community events, keeping their relevance beyond just sales. That’s a long-game approach that helps with brand loyalty when so many other retailers seem interchangeable.
Online Options, But Not Online-Only
Like everyone else, Buckle has made moves into online ordering and digital growth. They offer a full selection for online shopping and convenient pickup. However, you won’t see Buckle abandoning brick-and-mortar stores in favor of being online-only at least, not right now.
Customers still value the “try before you buy” aspect, especially with denim. Buckle’s strategy here has been to treat the website as another tool, not a replacement. The investments in improved digital infrastructure complement what’s happening in stores instead of competing with it.
For those looking to learn more about the business side of retail shifts or seeking tips for retail success, you might also want to check out Epic Business Tips for more stories and detailed advice.
What to Watch For Next
So, what does the future look like for Buckle? Short answer: pretty much like what we’re seeing now. They continue to monitor which malls are shifting or closing, and they’re willing to spend on relocation or new builds when it’s worth it.
They’re not immune to pressures nobody in retail is these days but as things stand, Buckle doesn’t seem at risk of shutting down. The earnings show stable profit, and the leadership maintains a measured approach to store growth.
If you’re a regular Buckle shopper, there’s no need to worry that your favorite jeans shop is about to disappear. If anything, you might find a shiny remodeled store next time you visit.
The Bottom Line: Buckle Isn’t Going Anywhere for Now
Retail is changing, and it’s changing fast. But while some big names have struggled, Buckle continues to prove things can still work if you stay focused, invest smartly, and listen to shoppers.
Buckle is not going out of business. They’re expanding, updating, and adapting as needed. When malls close, Buckle finds new spaces. When trends shift, they double down on the products their fans love.
It’s always possible that things may change years down the line, but for now, the “Buckle is closing” rumor just doesn’t hold up. The data shows a company that’s sticking around and investing back where it counts both in its stores and in the communities it serves.
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