Ross Stores Opened 51 Locations in Expansion Push
The retailer reached 115 new stores this year, adding locations in Massachusetts and beyond.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Retail
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Ross Stores Inc. opened 51 new retail locations across 17 states during September and October 2026. This expansion brings the company to a total of 115 new stores opened for the fiscal year.
Why it matters
The aggressive build-out follows strong financial performance in the second quarter, providing the capital and operational confidence to enter new markets like Massachusetts.
The retailer grew its total footprint to 2,377 stores, supported by second-quarter net earnings of $851.3 million, a 68% increase year-over-year. Sales for the same period climbed 13% to $6.3 billion, with comparable sales up 10%.
The players
Ross Stores Inc.
A major off-price apparel and home fashion retailer operating a vast national network of discount stores.
The details
The recent expansion included 41 Ross Dress for Less locations and 10 DD's Discounts stores. Strategic growth focused on increasing presence in established markets like New York, California, Florida, and Texas, while marking the chain's first entry into Massachusetts. The company is now working toward long-term growth targets of 2,900 Ross Dress for Less locations and 700 DD's Discounts stores.
Timeline
Q2 2026 saw comparable sales increase 10% year-over-year.
August 2026 marked the announcement of increased fiscal year growth plans.
September and October 2026 saw the opening of 51 new store locations.
Market Landscape
This growth tracks with the broader off-price sector trend of prioritizing physical store footprint expansion as a primary driver of market share. The company is accelerating development to meet long-term targets while maintaining momentum from its recent quarterly financial gains.
Operators should monitor whether this pace of store openings impacts regional labor demand or local real estate costs in the affected 17 states. Tracking the company's ability to maintain high comparable sales as it enters new geographic territories like Massachusetts provides a signal on consumer spending health.
The takeaway
Rapid scaling of a physical store base requires strict adherence to unit-level performance benchmarks. Owners should analyze their own recent performance metrics to determine if current liquidity supports a similarly accelerated growth phase or if caution is warranted.
Further reading
For broader trends on brick-and-mortar development, see Retail.
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Do you see the expansion of large retail chains as a sign of a healthier economy?
