Bankrupt furniture retailer reverses closures on stores just weeks after revealing it would shut down 26 locations

A POPULAR furniture chain has decided to backtrack on its original plans to close a number of its stores nationwide, partially ceasing operations.

At Home, a household retailer founded nearly 50 years ago, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.

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The At Home furniture retailer will keep more locations open[/caption]

Initially, the company announced in June that it would shutter 26 locations across the U.S. – a sizeable chunk of its 260 stores.

The chain stated it would close an additional six stores, which were deemed essentially “non-operational.”

However, despite this initial schema, two locations initially slated for shutdown will remain open: one in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and the other in Princeton, New Jersey.

ANSWERS FOR AT HOME STORE REVERSALS

Though At Home’s decision to backpedal on the closures of the respective brick-and-mortar shops in New Jersey and Wisconsin, as reported by USA TODAY, there’s still the question of “why?”

Frankly, this remains a bit of a mystery.

As of this writing, the total of At Home’s shuttering stores is roughly 30, subtracting the two remaining in business and the six that will close their doors.

Despite news that two of the planned closures will stay afloat, a statement issued by the chain via documents it filed for bankruptcy clarified why the closures were determined in the first place.

“Given the expenses associated with brick-and-mortar operation and the issues affecting the retail industry, a number of the [At Home] remaining stores are operating at sub-optimal performance levels,” the filing read.

The company also cited “persistent” price inflation as a major source of its financial woes.

THE DEAL WITH CLOSING AT HOME STORES

Despite the bleak prospect of At Home’s upcoming store closures, customers near these locations might still be able to make the best out of the situation.

Per the company, these locations are currently hosting liquidation sales en masse.

All items, including those with up to a 30% discount, will be sold until the September 30 closure deadline.

However, these liquidations aren’t without caveats.

All At Home Goods that fall along these guidelines will need to be purchased in-house and in person.

Furthermore, both gift cards and product returns have been rendered obsolete.

The discontinuation of At Home’s return policy and gift card tendering was given a July 2 deadline, which ended weeks ago.