Wet Seal. RadioShack. Frederick's of Hollywood.
The retail headlines of 2015 have read like an obituary for brick-and-mortar stores, as a flood of companies have announced that they're closing—or plan to close—hundreds and even thousands of locations.
It was a rough start for the retail industry, which ended 2014 on a similarly sour note. According to FBIC analyst Deborah Weinswig, who cited data from the International Council of Shopping Centers, retail and restaurant businesses announced the closing of nearly 5,500 locations last year.
But where there's death, there's life.
On the heels of bankruptcy filings and other store closures, Weinswig and ICSC compiled a list of companies that announced the greatest number of new locations in 2014. The list spans dollar stores and fast-fashion—proving Americans continue to seek value—as well as quick service restaurants.
"Lest the reader think 2014 was a year of merely shuttering retail stores and luring consumers to e-commerce platforms, we provide a list of notable retail expansion plans announced during 2014," Weinswig said.
There are also retailers that didn't make the list, such as TJX and Nordstrom, which have set longer-term targets to grow their footprints. And earlier this year, Wal-Mart said it will open 60 or 70 supercenters in 2015, along with 180 to 200 of its smaller-format Neighborhood Market stores.
