Major CA Retail Chain To Close 26 CA Stores Amid Bankruptcy

Pool supply retailer Leslie's is closing 26 stores across California as part of a bankruptcy restructuring plan.

The company plans to close 13 stores in Southern California, five in the Central Valley and eight in the Bay Area. The closures are among 76 nationwide that Leslie's is closing as it works to reduce debt and shrink its retail footprint, according to the company.

Leslie’s reported 172 locations in California last year, according to its most recent annual report. California was its second-largest market behind Texas.

For some communities, the closures could mean the loss of one of relatively few retailers devoted specifically to pool and spa care. Unlike more general home-improvement stores, specialty pool-supply shops cater to a narrower market, offering products and expertise tailored to pool maintenance, water treatment and equipment.

Two stores were set to close on Sept. 30: Cerritos and Palm Desert, according to court documents.

Another 24 are also set to close, though Leslie's has not specified on what date:

• Chatsworth
• Concord
• Davis
• Diamond Bar
• Encinitas
• Fremont
• Fresno
• Granada Hills
• La Crescenta
• Lake Forest
• Los Banos
• Mountain View
• Novato
• Paso Robles
• Pittsburg
• Ramona
• San Diego (Mira Mesa)
• San Jose
• San Ramon
• Santa Barbara
• Selma
• Tulare
• Tustin
• Walnut Creek

Leslie's said its remaining stores and online operations will continue serving customers during the bankruptcy process. Gift cards and loyalty program benefits will continue to be honored.

The Phoenix-based company recently filed for Chapter 11 protection and said it hopes to emerge from bankruptcy in early 2027.

Under a restructuring agreement announced Wednesday, Leslie's plans to reduce its outstanding funded debt by about $685 million, or roughly 90 percent.

"Leslie's is here to stay," CEO Jason McDonell said in announcing the restructuring.

McDonell said the company intends to use a stronger balance sheet and greater financial flexibility to reinvest in its stores and online business.

Leslie's operates more than 900 stores across 38 states. The company reported $722 million in assets and $1.2 billion in liabilities when it filed for Chapter 11 protection, according to the Orange County Register.

The retailer has also been struggling with declining sales. For the nine months ending July 4, Leslie's reported $790 million in sales, down 7.3% from nearly $853 million during the same period a year earlier, according to the Register.

Its net loss widened to $87.7 million from $74.2 million during the comparable period.

Leslie's has roots in California dating to 1963, when Phil Leslie Jr. founded Leslie's Poolmart in North Hollywood. The company later expanded into a national chain and has moved between private and public ownership several times over its six-decade history, according to the Register.