Exploring The Decline Of Retail Chains Like Gordmans In Minnesota

Once a booming national chain with several locations across Minnesota, this retailer has now vanished from the North Star State, leaving behind only memories.

In the five years since the pandemic, brick-and-mortar stores in Minnesota and across the U.S. have struggled to bounce back. Even before the 2020 shutdowns, more and more shoppers had already been shifting to online retailers, leaving physical storefronts emptier by the year.

This shift has taken a serious toll on many traditional retailers. Once-dominant brands like Sears and J.C. Penney have been hit hard, closing stores and battling bankruptcy. Even retail giant Macy’s announced plans earlier this year to close 66 more stores nationwide.

SEE ALSO: After 72 Years of Service, This MN Business Is Closing for Good

And Wisconsin-based Kohl's closed 27 of its 'underperforming' stores earlier this spring, as well as reversing a controversial coupon policy that had been in place for several years, all to bring more customers back.

But do you remember the once-popular Gordmans stores? They were a discount department store chain that operated a half-dozen locations in Minnesota.

The former Gordmans store location in Woodbury, MN. (Google Maps/Canva)

Back in the day, Gordmans had stores in Minnesota in the following cities:

Burnsville
Roseville
Edina (Southdale)
Coon Rapids
Mankato
Woodbury

In case your memory needs a little jogging, here's what Gordmans was all about, according to the now-defunct Gordman's website from 2007 via the Internet archive, Wayback Machine:

Gordman's is an exciting, fun-to-shop store that offers you a way to save up to 50% off prices you would find at a mall. Save on large assortments of name-brand clothes for all ages, accessories, footwear, gifts, designer fragrances, fashion jewelry, accent furniture, home fashions and more-- at big savings every day!

During its heyday, the Gordmans chain had over 200 stores in over 20 states, according to Wikipedia. But things started to change, and in 2017, BringMeTheNews reported that the chain was likely to close all six of its Minnesota locations as it had entered into 'an agreement to liquidate the inventory and assets of its retail stores and distribution centers.'

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Sure enough, most of those Minnesota Gordmans stores did close after that announcement. Only the Woodbury location (which will soon be the site of a new Ross Dress For Less store) remained open, though it closed its doors for good when the Gordmans parent company filed for bankruptcy during the height of the pandemic in May 2020, Wikipedia noted.

But could Gordmans actually be coming back to the Bold North? Don't hold your breath, but The Business Journals reported back in May 2022 that a company called BrandX had purchased the rights to the Gordmans chain, along with several other once-popular brands, like Bon Ton, Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s, and Younkers.

The story went on to say that BrandX had plans to 'eventually reintroduce all of the stores,' though there was no specific word about the Gordman's brand itself-- or when it might be set to open any locations here in Minnesota.

And while they may seem to be more prevalent recently, business closings aren't a new phenomenon. Keep scrolling to check out 50 beloved retail chains that also closed their doors and aren't around anymore.