GameStop Reverses Course: Retailer Begins Reopening Shuttered Storefronts
GameStop is reopening select locations following a period of downsizing. Discover the latest on the retailer's shift toward collectibles and stock moves.
POLICY WIRE — Brooklyn, Ohio — GameStop is reversing its recent trend of downsizing by reopening a selection of its previously shuttered retail locations. A company spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the first of these returning stores is located at 4756 Ridge Road in Brooklyn, Ohio.
While the company has not provided a comprehensive list of which sites will return, the spokesperson noted that the public should stay tuned for further updates. This move follows an announcement last week that the retailer would begin reopening doors on September 11.
The decision to reopen comes roughly nine months after the company initiated a strategy to close stores across multiple states to reduce costs and adapt to evolving consumer habits. As of January 27, 2026, data from ScrapeHero indicated that 2,086 GameStop locations remained in operation across the United States.
During the 2025 fiscal year, which concluded on January 31, 2026, the company shuttered 590 U.S. stores as part of what it described as a store portfolio optimization review. Reports from local media and customer notices previously identified closures in states including Illinois, New York, Kansas, Kentucky, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Ohio.
In a December SEC filing, the company had signaled plans to close a significant number of additional stores throughout the fiscal year. These recent reopenings coincide with a strategic pivot toward the collectibles market, which now represents a larger portion of the company’s revenue.
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Trading cards and various collectibles accounted for 45.1 percent of sales in the most recent quarter, a notable increase from approximately 29 percent in fiscal 2025. Compared to the same quarter a year prior, sales in the collectibles category rose by 57 percent.
Executive leadership is also demonstrating financial commitment to the firm. On September 10, CEO Ryan Cohen purchased 1 million shares of GameStop stock at an average price of roughly $20.38 per share, a transaction valued at approximately $20.4 million. Board member Alain Attal also acquired 5,000 shares that same day, valued at about $100,000.
GameStop remains a prominent name following its role in the 2021 meme-stock phenomenon, though its share price has not returned to the peaks seen during that period. According to Fast Company, the company’s stock has declined by about 36 percent over the past year.
The 2021 surge saw the stock climb from under $20 to a peak exceeding $480, driven by retail investors on Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets and a short squeeze that impacted hedge funds. The volatility, which drew attention from figures like Elon Musk, resulted in trading halts and prompted congressional hearings regarding market operations.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
