Ross Stores has wrapped up its fiscal 2025 expansion with the opening of 40 new stores across 17 states in September and October.
The additions include 36 Ross Dress for Less stores and four DD’s Discounts locations, bringing the company’s total new store openings for the year to 90, according to a company release.
The retailer’s latest expansion strengthens its national footprint, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast, with new Ross stores in Michigan, New Jersey, and New York, said Richard Lietz, executive vice president of property development.
Meanwhile, DD’s Discounts, Ross’ lower-priced sister brand, continued to grow in its core markets of California and Texas.
“This fall, we continued to strengthen our brand presence by opening stores in existing markets and expanding in new markets,” Lietz said.
“Looking ahead, we remain confident in our expansion plans and see plenty of opportunity to grow to at least 2,900 Ross Dress for Less and 700 DD’s Discounts locations over time.”
Ross also acquired a number of store sites through the Rite Aid bankruptcy deal, mostly in its West Coast markets, Group President and COO Michael Hartshorn told analysts.
Alongside expanding, the company is refreshing its existing fleet and expects to update about half of its locations by the end of the year.
Ross is also testing self-checkout in 80 stores, primarily in high-volume locations, with plans to expand the programme in 2026.
Leadership changes have supported Ross’ broader transformation efforts. The company appointed James Conroy as CEO last year, following his tenure as CEO of Boot Barn, and later named William Sheehan as chief financial officer after Adam Orvos retired.
In its latest quarter, Ross reported total sales up 5% year over year to $5.5 billion, while comparable store sales rose 2%. Net income fell 3.6% to $508 million.
The company now operates nearly 2,300 Ross Dress for Less and DD’s Discounts stores across 44 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico, as it continues to grow its off-price retail presence nationwide.
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