A patriotic apparel brand is preparing to close nearly all its physical stores nationwide, making a major retreat from brick-and-mortar retail.
The shutdowns will affect more than 100 employees and leave the company with just three physical stores.
Founded in 2009 by Daniel Alarik, a former U.S. Army drill sergeant, Grunt Style is a veteran-operated lifestyle and apparel brand that sells patriotic clothing and accessories.
Grunt Style also established the Grunt Style Foundation in 2021, a nonprofit organization that supports service members, veterans, and their families across the U.S.
Grunt Style is closing at least 10 stores
Grunt Style is preparing to close at least 10 of its 13 physical stores nationwide by Nov. 30, 2026, according to employee layoff notices and recent local reporting.
The closures include its flagship retail location at the company’s San Antonio headquarters.
The affected stores include:
- San Antonio, Texas: 900 Broadway Street
- Canutillo, Texas: Outlet Shoppes of El Paso
- Chandler, Arizona: Phoenix Premium Outlets
- Destin, Florida: Destin Commons
- Lutz, Florida: Tampa Premium Outlets
- Atlanta, Georgia: Outlets Shoppes of Atlanta
- Branson, Missouri: Branson Tanger Outlets
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Tanger Outlets
- Norfolk, Virginia: Norfolk Premium Outlet Retail Store
- Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas South Premium Outlets
More than 100 employees will be affected by the closures, including retail workers, accounting staff, a video producer, and a social media editor.
“The company expects to close this retail employment site in its entirety,” Grunt Style Human Resources Manager Kelley Wisley told the Texas Workforce Commission in the company’s notice about the San Antonio retail location, San Antonio Express-News reported.
The notice also states that no final determination has been made regarding the future operation or closure of the company’s headquarters.
Grunt Style had not issued a public statement addressing the nationwide store shutdowns as of Oct. 8, 2026.
The closures would leave the company with three physical stores in Nashville, Tennessee; Sevierville, Tennessee; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Grunt Style’s store locator still lists locations scheduled to close.
The latest reductions follow the 2025 shutdown of a Grunt Style production facility in Illinois, which eliminated approximately 100 jobs. Together, the two rounds of cuts represent a significant reduction in the company’s physical operations and workforce.
Grunt Style has faced challenges after rapid growth
Grunt Style’s current store closures come years after the company experienced rapid growth, building a nationally recognized apparel business around patriotic designs and military-inspired merchandise.
The company initially grew through online sales, events, and other direct-to-consumer channels. It later expanded into brick-and-mortar retail, opening its first stand-alone store in San Antonio in 2020 before adding more locations the following year.
The company’s growth was substantial. In 2017, Grunt Style had sold nearly $100 million worth of products over the previous three years, according to Forbes.
However, the company’s history has also included management turmoil and legal disputes.
Alarik was removed as CEO in 2020 and subsequently became involved in a legal dispute with the company. The dispute was settled in 2023, San Antonio Express-News reported.
Grunt Style has not publicly identified a specific reason for the closures, so its past management disputes should not be taken as evidence of what prompted the latest cuts.
Why physical stores still matter in modern retail
Grunt Style’s decision to reduce its physical footprint comes as retailers continue to reassess how their stores contribute to sales, customer engagement, and operating costs.
According to Coresight Research, retailers had announced 67% more store closures through July 4, 2025, than during the same period in 2024. The trend reflects pressure on businesses to evaluate their store networks amid changing consumer spending patterns and operating expenses.
The outlook for apparel retailers also remains challenging. McKinsey & Company’s State of Fashion 2026 Report projects low-single-digit growth for the global fashion industry, citing persistent macroeconomic uncertainty, tariff pressures, and increasingly value-conscious consumers, particularly in the U.S.
Physical stores can still support brand visibility, customer service, and fulfillment, even as retailers shift more sales online.
For Grunt Style, the question is how its remaining stores and online business will support the brand after the planned closures. The company has not publicly outlined a broader retail strategy in response to the latest cuts.
Other retailers are closing stores
Grunt Style is not alone in reassessing its physical footprint. Several retailers have closed stores or announced additional shutdowns as they adjust their store networks.
Here’s some of my previous coverage of recent store closures:
- The Salvation Army: Closed at least 10 stores between late 2025 and 2026 across the U.S. and Canada.
- JCPenney: Closed at least six locations in 2026, following hundreds of store closures since 2020.
- H&M: Closed 95 stores in the year ended Aug. 31, 2026, and shut down all Monki stores in 2025.
For customers, store closures can mean fewer convenient places to shop in person. Grunt Style’s planned reductions do not mean the brand is disappearing entirely, as its website continues to sell apparel and accessories.
Related: Costco helps members solve a key problem, but at a cost
