Store Closings?

A friend emailed me this list of retailers that informed the SEC of closing plans between October 2008 and January 2009. I hope that it's entirely bogus; regardless, I’m sure that the worst is still to come.

• Ann Taylor 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered
• Bombay closing remaining stores
• Cache will close all stores
• Circuit City stores... most recent (? how many)
• Dillard's to close some stores
• Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January
• Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
• Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores
• Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
• GAP closing 85 stores
• Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)
• J. Jill closing all stores
• JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
• K B Toys closing 356 stores
• Lane Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 store nationwide
• Levitz closing down remaining stores
• Linens and Things closing all stores
• Loews to close down some stores
• Macys to close 9 stores after January
• Movie Galley Closing all stores
• Pacific Sunware closing stores
• Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
• Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
• Sharper Image closing down all stores
• Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
• Talbots closing down all stores
• Whitehall closing all stores
• Wickes Furniture closing down
• Wilson Leather closing down all stores
• Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January

Is this list for real?! Partly, for real?! Either way, it's unbelievable!

There will be some great deals this holiday season—but there will also be so many folks who will lose their jobs in the retail industry. To be safe, try to use any old gift cards or credit slips for "troubled" stores ASAP. These days, you never know which retailers will be closing stores near you or closing for good.