Scents of pumpkin pie and cinnamon sticks signify people gearing up for the holiday season- the gift giving season.  So portable, so flexible: gift cards are available for almost all retailers, from you favorite designer clothing store to your local hardware warehouse!  This season, please be use caution before buying gift cards from stores that may be offering awesome end of the year sales only to close in the beginning of 2009. 

With the economic woes squeezing the retail sales numbers tighter, many retailers have announced store closures or even company shut downs.  *The following companies may not be at the usual location you are used to seeing them at:

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)

Ann Taylor 117 stores nationwide closing

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide

Eddie Bauer to close 27 stores and more after January

Cache will close all stores

Talbots closing down specialty stores

J Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots),

Pacific Sunwear closing 154 demo stores and CA distribution center(also owned by Talbots)

Gap closing 85 stores

Footlocker closing 140 stores, more to close after January

Wickes Furniture closing down

Levitz closing down remaining stores

Bombay closing remaining stores

Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January

Whitehall closing all stores

Piercing Pagoda closing all stores

Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January

Home Depot closing 15 stores

Macy's to close 9 stores after January

Linens and Things closing all stores

Movie Gallery closing all stores

Pep Boys closing 33 stores

JC Penny closing a number of stores after January

Wilsons Leather closing down all stores

Sharper Image closing down all stores

KB Toys closing 365 stores

Lowes to close some stores

Dillard's to close some stores

Please verify with other stores that may not be on this list. 

Malls of America will have a new look, just don't let it be at your expense!

How do you feel regarding these closures?  We'd love to get some feedback!

*Joa Realty recommends doing the research concerning these retailers and the plans of the stores in your neighborhood.  Joa Realty is not responsible for the accuracy of the status of these companies.  Companies may change their plans, and they may not reflect the statements of this article.