Ross Stores begins 2026 expansion with 17 new locations
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US-based off-price retailer Ross Stores has announced the opening of 17 new stores across 11 states during February and March. The expansion includes 13 Ross Dress for Less locations and four Dd’s Discounts stores, marking the first phase of the group’s strategic growth plan for the current fiscal year.
The openings are part of a broader fiscal 2026 initiative to add approximately 110 new locations, comprising about 85 Ross and 25 Dd’s units. This represents a total unit growth of 5 percent for the year. The company continues to target a long-term footprint of 2,900 Ross stores and 700 Dd’s locations across the US.
Regional growth and market penetration
The recent expansion has seen Ross increase its presence in the Mountain, Midwest, and Northeast regions, while further penetrating key Sunbelt states. For the Dd’s division, the retailer focused on its core markets of California and Texas, while also marking its entry into the Utah market with an inaugural location.
Ross Stores executive vice president of property development, Richard Lietz, stated that the company is “thrilled to kick off our 2026 expansion with new stores that bring great value to our customers and new jobs to communities across the country.” Lietz noted that these openings build on the strong performance of new stores observed in 2025.
Corporate social responsibility and community impact
In alignment with each new opening, Ross has made donations to local Boys & Girls Clubs or First Book literacy partners. These contributions are intended to support underprivileged youth by providing safe programming and literacy resources. The group maintains that regional growth should be accompanied by the creation of opportunities within local communities.
The retailer remains confident in its trajectory as it scales toward its multi-year goals. Executives highlighted that the current momentum in the off-price sector provides a clear path for the company to reach its stated target of 3,600 total stores nationwide.