The drugstore retail sector has struggled since the Covid-19 pandemic, with fierce competition among brick-and-mortar retailers who compete against each other, as well as online pharmaceutical providers for the prescription dollar.

One Torrid shopper says she is "devastated" to learn about the closures, saying the plus-size community is "being relegated to online-only options."

Another retailer frequently found in malls is set to close dozens of stores this year in an effort to “optimize” its footprint. Lisa Harper, CEO of California-based Torrid, announced last week during an earnings call with investors that up to 180 “underperforming” stores are expected to close this year.