GUAM. DFS Group has announced it will shut its Guam operations in March 2026, bringing the curtain down on a 55-year presence on the island.
The closure of the Tumon Bay T Galleria is in line with the company’s wide-ranging strategic restructuring and operational streamlining outlined by DFS Chairman & CEO Ed Brennan in an exclusive interview with The Moodie Davitt Report last November.
As detailed in Miller’s Tale, the biography of DFS Co-Founder Robert (Bob) Miller, DFS opened its first Guam store at at the Dai-Ichi Hotel in 1971, amid booming Japanese tourism and related heavy spending on shopping.
The company then opened a second downtown store before acquiring the airport duty-free operations run by American entrepreneur, Kenneth Jones. DFS ran the airport duty-free business until 2013 when a ten-year contract was awarded to Lotte Duty Free after an open tender.
“After more than 50 distinguished years in Guam, DFS has made the difficult decision to cease its operations on the island,” DFS told The Moodie Davitt Report.
“This closure aligns with DFS’s broader global strategy to streamline operations in response to an evolving market landscape.”
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The closure will proceed in a phased approach, with different retail categories gradually winding down from 31 December until 31 March 2026.
“During this transition, our utmost priority is to support our dedicated team,” DFS commented.
“Their unwavering commitment, hard work and passion have been integral to our success over the decades. We are immensely grateful for their invaluable contributions.
“We are proud of our history in Guam and express our heartfelt gratitude to the Guam community, our customers and partners for their trust and support over the years.
“Until the final day of operations, DFS Guam remains dedicated to providing exceptional service to our customers.” ✈
