Allbirds shoe brand announced on Wednesday that it will close almost all of its U.S. stores by the end of February (except for two outlets) and go online, turning to e-commerce instead. It will continue to operate two London-based brick-and-mortar locations as well.
Fast Company has reached out to Allbirds for more details about the locations that will be closing.
“This is an important step for Allbirds, as we drive toward profitable growth under our turnaround strategy,” Allbirds CEO Joe Vernachio said in a statement. “We have been opportunistically reducing our brick-and-mortar portfolio over the past two years. By exiting these remaining unprofitable doors, we are taking actions to reduce costs and support the long-term health of the business.”
Famously dubbed the “world’s most comfortable shoes,” Allbirds were all the rage in the late 2010s (yes, I had a pair). They can be described as a combination of sneaker and business casual shoe, made of wool and tree fiber. They felt soft—in my opinion, almost like walking on air—due to the sugar cane foam sole.
The once trendy eco-friendly footwear, which had been a favorite of tech bros in San Francisco and hip New Yorkers, have become less popular in recent years, resulting in less traffic to their store locations. Like many U.S. retailers, Allbirds has also struggled as consumers cut spending amid growing inflation and the higher cost of living, and have flocked online to shop.
Allbirds financials
Shares of Allbirds Inc. (Nasdaq: BIRD) were trading up 0.08% in midday trading on Wednesday after an early morning spike.
The company reported third-quarter 2025 earnings in November, including net revenue of $33 million, down 23.3% from $43 million in the same period last year, and negative earnings per share (EPS) of -$2.49, which beat expectations of -$2.64.