In an increasingly unstable economic context, many retail chains are going through difficult times. Consumer spending has slowed down, margins have narrowed, and logistics costs keep rising. This situation has put even companies with decades of experience on the ropes.
One of them is At Home, the popular home goods chain based in Texas. After years of expansion and national presence, it has confirmed news that many feared: the company is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With this, the imminent closure of dozens of its physical stores is coming.
A decision that affects thousands of consumers in the United States
Specifically, 26 stores will close across the country, as the company, based in Texas, has acknowledged that it is going through a period of great difficulty. They attribute the measure to the drop in spending and the pressure of new tariffs.
The company has operated for decades under different names. It was founded in 1979 as Garden Ridge Pottery and became At Home in 2014. In 2021, it was acquired by investment firm Hellman & Friedman.
With this bankruptcy filing, At Home hopes to eliminate almost all its debt. The total amounts to about $2 billion (€2,000 million). It will also receive an additional $200 million (€200 million) in financing to keep operating while it restructures.
The company's goal is to keep operating while it redefines its strategy. Its CEO, Brad Weston, assures that they have taken steps to strengthen its business model. "We want to achieve sustainable growth and greater profitability," he stated in a press release.
These are the stores that won't reopen
Among the 26 affected stores, there are several in New York, California, New Jersey, and Florida. In California alone, eight locations will close, including those in San José, Pasadena, and Sacramento. In New York, the Bronx and Rego Park locations will disappear.
The list also includes locations in Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington, Illinois, and other states. In total, 26 areas will lose their At Home store. The closure impacts customers and employees alike.
Meanwhile, the chain keeps 234 other stores open. Some of them, such as those in Albany or Poughkeepsie, will keep operating in New York state. The brand's future will depend on how this bankruptcy process unfolds.