Scrubs and Beyond, a specialty clothing retailer, announced it will close all of its physical store locations as part of a strategic shift to an online-only sales model. The company currently operates over 115 stores across 30 states, including nine stores within California. The affected California locations span cities such as Concord, Upland, Riverside, and Fresno.
In a statement to TheStreet, the company indicated it was unable to provide further comment on the retail closures but confirmed the decision to wind down its brick-and-mortar operations to serve customers primarily through its online store. This move aligns with a broader trend in the retail industry where companies are increasingly prioritizing e-commerce. Dominick Miserandino, CEO of RTM Nexus, suggested that for products like medical scrubs, which are often repetitive and do not require extensive try-ons, consumers may prefer the convenience of online purchasing through platforms like Amazon.
This development follows similar decisions by other apparel retailers, such as Torrid, a plus-sized women's clothing outlet also based in California, which has also announced store closures to focus on its online sales channels. The shift reflects the significant growth of e-commerce in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, e-commerce sales reached $299.6 billion in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 2.2% increase from the previous quarter and a 5.21% rise compared to the same period the prior year. Overall, U.S. e-commerce sales reached a record high of $1.19 trillion in the previous year, a substantial increase from $297 billion in 2014.
Clothing remains one of the most popular online shopping categories globally. A report by Shopify indicated that clothing sales generated $760 billion in 2024, second only to electronics. Features such as virtual try-on tools, size guidance, style recommendations, and customer reviews are cited as factors that reduce uncertainty and boost conversion rates in online clothing sales. Furthermore, e-commerce eliminates geographical limitations, enabling brands to reach new customer bases without the need for additional physical stores.