From Joann Fabrics to Forever 21, more than 8,100 stores closed across the U.S. in 2025, according to retail industry analytics firm Coresight Research.
What if you still have an unused gift card from any of these businesses?
Warehouse chain Costco recently issued a recall for Synergy restaurant gift cards sold between ct. 27, 2025, and Jan. 26, 2026. According to FOX Business, the recall is due to Synergy World, a gift and loyalty card company, abruptly shutting down last month after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Thus, the gift cards can no longer be redeemed.
What happens if you have a gift card and the business closes?
If a business closes, the Consumer Federation of America provides steps on its website on how you can possibly get your money back:
They note that if all else fails, you may want to consider taking legal action to recover your money.
Does Florida have any laws regarding when giftcards can be used?
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 38 states, Guam and Puerto Rico have statutory provisions regarding expiration dates or fees.
As for Florida, its statutes state that a gift certificate or credit memo sold or issued for consideration in this state may not have an expiration date or expiration period. However, there are some exceptions, such as:
What if the store hasn’t closed yet? Can I use my gift card?
Possibly. According to Debt.Org, it depends on the store and the reason for the closure.
“When companies file for bankruptcy, they can only continue accepting gift cards if they ask the bankruptcy court for permission and the court authorizes it,” the website shares. “So, companies that declare bankruptcy may be less likely to honor gift cards than companies that are going out of business for other reasons.”
Check with a store beforehand to see if your gift card can still be redeemed.
What businesses have closed locations in Florida so far in 2026?
There have been a few businesses that have announced closures in Florida as of March 2026.
Darden Restaurants Inc. announced on Feb. 3 that it’s shuttering all of its 28 remaining Bahama Breeze locations. The following Florida locations are closing:
As of mid-February, at least nine Winn-Dixie stores in Florida have closed to be converted into Aldi locations. The closures include Winn-Dixie’s in Miramar, Crestview, Defuniak Springs, Dunedin, Plantation, Titusville, Eustis, Tarpon Springs and Inverness. Two more, in Longwood and Palm Bay.
According to reports, more than 50 Winn-Dixie store closings in Florida could be in the works this year.
Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, is closing most of its Saks Off 5th and Neiman Marcus Last Call locations, according to NBC Miami. They reported in February 2026 that the following stores in Florida will be closing:
The company said that gift cards to both discount retail stores will continue to be accepted until Saturday, Feb.14. For saksoff5th.com, they will be accepted until Feb. 13. After these dates, they will no longer be honored.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: I have a gift card for store that has suddenly closed. What do I do?
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
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