Consumers’ flight from brick-and-mortar stores in malls has led several popular retailers to close hundreds of stores since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The year began with Saks Fifth Avenue’s parent, Saks Global Enterprises LLC, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2026, which led to dozens of store closings.
Major mall tenant Macy’s continued closing locations after revealing it would close 150 stores from 2024 to 2026, according to a Forbes report. Foot Locker has also closed hundreds of stores over the last three years, as TheStreet’s Daniel Kline reported.
Outside of the malls, retail chains are battling rising costs of labor and products driven by inflation, increased lease rates, and leakage from theft, which, combined, have forced certain retailers to close shops.
And then there are smaller retail chains that are more mysterious and have closed all of their locations without giving a reason for closing their stores.
SHutterstock
Popular comic book store chain closes
Major comics publisher Dark Horse Comics said that it will close its comic-book retail chain Things From Another World and continue offering its publishing and collectibles products through local comic-book stores nationwide, according to a company statement.
Dark Horse Comics will close its Things From Another World stores in Milwaukie and Beaverton, Ore., on June 30, and shutter its flagship location at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, Calif., on Sept. 30.
Things From Another World stores had become a destination for comic-book collectors and pop-culture fans for decades.
The company did not give a reason for closing its stores.
“This was not an easy decision, and we do not take lightly the impact it has on the people directly affected,” Dark Horse Comics said in a statement.
Chain’s e-commerce closed in 2025
Things From Another World’s e-commerce site closed down on April 30, 2025, eliminating an online sales option for customers, according to its X post.
The retail store closure announcement was included in a May 21 statement regarding updates to Dark Horse Comics‘ business.
“As part of our efforts to modernize, strengthen collaboration within the company and build a more-connected organization across Fellowship Entertainment, today we are announcing several updates to our business,” the statement read.
Dark Horse Games launches
The company unveiled Dark Horse Games, a new initiative to combine its publishing, film, and television creative universes with interactive entertainment.
“Just as Dark Horse Entertainment exists to champion our storytellers in film and television, Dark Horse Games will provide creators with the development opportunities and creative partnerships needed to realize their worlds within interactive entertainment,” the company said.
The business update also focused on its film and television division, Dark Horse Entertainment, and a new commitment to its writers, artists, and storytellers, “ensuring they have the development support, creative partnerships, and resources to bring their visions to life across film and television.”
The Things From Another World retail chain launched in 1980 as Pegasus Books in Bend, Ore., opening stores in Oregon and Washington. The chain changed its name to Things From Another World in 1993 with the opening of its flagship location at Universal CityWalk.
Founder Mike Richardson, frustrated with the quality of the products he was selling, launched Dark Horse Comics in 1986, publishing comics based on popular films, such as “Aliens,” “Predator,” “Star Wars,” “Hellboy,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Among Top 5 comics publishers
Dark Horse Comics has grown to become one of the top comic book publishers in the nation. The publisher ranked No. 5 behind DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, and IDW Publishing, with 3.2% of the market share, based on sales through ComicHub, according to ICV2.
Dark Horse Entertainment launched in 1992, producing film and television projects based on the comic book publisher’s characters and stories at Twentieth Century Fox studios.
Dark Horse sells collectibles
The company launched the Dark Horse Deluxe brand in 1998, producing model kits, toys, apparel, and collectibles
Dark Horse Media, which includes Dark Horse Comics, Dark Horse Entertainment, and the Things From Another World chain, sold its assets to Sweden-based global games developer Embracer Group in 2021.
Related: Award-winning Home Depot rival closes store, no bankruptcy
