If you saw a headline about a “popular home goods retailer” filing for bankruptcy and closing dozens of stores, it’s completely understandable to wonder if HomeGoods is in trouble. But here’s the short answer: HomeGoods is not the chain closing stores. A different company is — and the two get mixed up constantly.
This article explains which retailer is actually closing locations, why the confusion keeps spreading, and how to check whether a store near you is affected.
The Retailer Closing Stores Is At Home, Not HomeGoods
The company making headlines is At Home — a separate home décor chain with more than 200 locations across the country. At Home filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the closure of approximately 26 to 31 stores, depending on the stage of the process.
HomeGoods is a completely different company. It’s owned by TJX Companies, the same parent that runs T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. TJX has not announced any chain-wide shutdown of HomeGoods. There is no credible business press coverage or corporate announcement suggesting HomeGoods is broadly closing.
The mix-up is easy to make. Both chains sell home décor and furniture. Both operate large-format stores. But they are separate businesses with different owners and very different financial situations right now.
Why So Many People Think HomeGoods Is the One in Trouble
A big part of the problem is how news outlets phrase their headlines. Segments on local TV and news websites frequently say things like “popular home goods retailer files for bankruptcy” without naming At Home upfront. A reader who skims the headline and not the article body will naturally assume the subject is HomeGoods, since that’s a brand name most people recognize.
Both chains also occupy similar spaces in the same kind of shopping plazas, which makes it easy to confuse them if you don’t shop either one regularly.
Local rumors make things worse. On a Reddit thread from Naples, Florida, one user posted asking whether HomeGoods was closing and whether Barnes & Noble would move into the space. Other users quickly corrected the record: no HomeGoods locations in Naples were closing. Barnes & Noble was moving into a different unit in the same plaza — specifically the space previously occupied by Big Lots, not HomeGoods.
That kind of plaza reshuffling happens all the time. When a new tenant moves in nearby, people assume their favorite store is leaving. Social media speculation spreads faster than corrections, and before long, “I heard HomeGoods is closing” becomes a neighborhood rumor with no factual basis.
What At Home’s Bankruptcy Actually Means for Its Stores
Chapter 11 bankruptcy is not the same as a company shutting down completely. It’s a legal process that lets a business keep operating while it restructures its finances under court supervision. Think of it like a bank that closes a few branches to cut costs — the bank itself keeps running.
At Home’s plan involves eliminating roughly $2 billion in debt and securing $200 million in new funding, with ownership transitioning to its lenders and investment firms. The goal is to come out leaner, not to disappear entirely.
Only specific “underperforming” stores are being closed and liquidated — about 26 to 31 locations spread across a dozen states. The majority of At Home stores are staying open and continuing to operate both in-store and online.
For the stores that are closing, liquidation sales are running through approximately September 30. Inventory gets thinner as the closing date approaches, and discounts tend to increase the closer you get to the final day. If you have At Home gift cards or store credits, it’s worth checking the company’s official communication about how those are handled during the bankruptcy process — rules can change during restructuring.
Specific closures have been confirmed in markets including the Chicago area (three stores) and New York locations such as Rego Park and the Bronx. Local news in those cities has published addresses and closing dates for affected stores.
The Economic Pressures Behind These Closures
At Home’s court filings spell out exactly why the company ran into trouble: rising interest rates, inflation, higher import tariffs, and slowing consumer spending. These are real pressures, and they aren’t unique to At Home.
Home décor is a discretionary category. When people feel squeezed financially, buying throw pillows and decorative mirrors is one of the first things they cut back on. That slowdown in demand hits specialty home décor chains harder than stores that sell everyday necessities.
Higher tariffs on imported goods also matter here. Home furnishing retailers source a significant portion of their inventory from overseas. When those import costs go up, margins shrink — and companies already carrying heavy debt loads have very little room to absorb the hit.
This context is worth understanding, but it doesn’t mean HomeGoods faces the same immediate risk. The key difference is financial structure. At Home was carrying an enormous debt burden that made it vulnerable when conditions got tough. HomeGoods, backed by TJX Companies, is in a very different position.
How to Check Whether Your Specific Store Is Affected
If you’re worried about a store near you — whether it’s At Home or HomeGoods — here’s a practical way to find out what’s actually happening:
- Check the brand’s official store locator. Both HomeGoods and At Home have searchable store finders on their websites. If a location is closing, that information will typically be reflected there.
- Look for in-store signage. Closing sales and liquidation events always post visible notices inside the store. If you walk in and don’t see anything, the store is likely not closing.
- Search local news by store name and your city. Regional outlets like NBC Chicago, PennLive, and Syracuse.com have been publishing specific At Home closure lists with addresses. A quick search will tell you if your area is on the list.
- Be skeptical of social media rumors. As the Naples example shows, what gets shared on Facebook or Reddit is often incomplete or just wrong. Always verify with an official source or a credible local news outlet.
If you’re looking for reliable business news coverage on retail changes, Ibizpress covers business developments in plain language without the noise.
What This Means for Shoppers Right Now
If you shop at HomeGoods, nothing has changed. The stores are operating normally. There’s no chain-wide closure happening, and TJX Companies has not made any announcements suggesting widespread HomeGoods shutdowns are coming.
If you shop at At Home, it depends on your location. Most stores are staying open. But if you’re near one of the 26 to 31 stores being closed, now is the time to check whether yours is on the list. Liquidation sales mean deals are available, but inventory is shrinking and the closing date is firm.
Either way, the most important thing is to go to the source. Check the company’s official website, look for store signage, or read your local news. Don’t rely on a headline that uses vague phrasing like “home goods retailer” without naming the actual company — that’s exactly what’s causing all the confusion in the first place.
The Bottom Line
HomeGoods is not closing. At Home is the retailer that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing approximately 26 to 31 stores as part of a debt restructuring. The two companies sell similar products in similar stores, which makes the mix-up understandable — but it’s still inaccurate.
At Home’s bankruptcy is a restructuring, not a full shutdown. Most of its stores remain open. The closures are targeted at specific underperforming locations, and the company plans to continue operating after the process is complete.
If a headline scared you into thinking your local HomeGoods was shutting its doors, you can relax. But if you have an At Home nearby, it’s worth checking the official closure list to see if your location is one of the affected stores.
Read Also:
