With the rise of online shopping, it's easier than ever to hop on your computer and place an order for anything you need—including furniture. But what that means is you can't lay on the mattress you're contemplating or feel the fabric of the chairs you've had your eye on before putting down your credit card. Now, there will be even fewer places for this hands-on experience, as two furniture retailers have announced they'll be shuttering brick-and-mortar locations. Read on to find out which stores are closing, starting Dec. 3.
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Furniture store closures are on the rise.
iStockA few longstanding furniture retailers recently announced they're closing up shop, including Rotmans Furniture, a staple in Worcester, Massachusetts. The 60-year-old store will close its doors by the end of the year, The Boston Globe reported in October. Rotmans kicked off a going-out-of-business sale on Oct. 14, and the store's sales manager Barbara Kane confirmed that the closure is intended to give the current CEO, Steve Rotman, a chance to retire.
Homestead Furniture in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, which has been in business since 1982, will also be closing in the coming months. No official closing date has been set, and as of Oct. 31, the going-out-of-business and liquidation sale was ongoing.
But while Rotmans and Homestead were single stores, two larger chains are now shuttering locations.
You'll recognize this big-name brand.
Prachana Thong-on / ShutterstockIf you've ever been in the market to score a deal on furniture, chances are you've visited an IKEA location. The Swedish company is known for its affordable and innovative décor—as well as its sometimes complicated assembly process. The retailer has approximately 456 stores globally and 70 in North America, but the latter number will soon drop to 69.
The furniture retailer announced on its website that a location in Queens, New York, will see its final day on Dec. 3, 2022. IKEA called the decision to close "difficult," but said it will continue normal operations for customers "to find affordable furnishings for every room in your home" until that December date.
This IKEA was smaller than typical stores.
ricochet64 / ShutterstockThe 115,000-square-foot IKEA is located inside Queens' Rego Center mall. In 2019, IKEA signed a 10-year lease with Rego Center owner Vornado Realty Trust. It was part of an initiative to open smaller IKEA stores in cities, according to Commercial Observer. The "outpost" location is approximately half the size of a typical store, primarily selling smaller goods, with larger pieces available to be ordered and delivered. Those plans, however, seem to have changed with the times, as the store will shutter after less than two years.
“We have been testing and trying many new things, and we were very proud to bring the first Ikea store to Queens in January 2021,” an IKEA spokesperson said in a statement to Commercial Observer. “However, as we all know the world has continually shifted since then, and we have had to evolve our business and accelerate our transformation to ensure our business remains both profitable and viable for the future.”
IKEA noted in a press release that the company remains "committed to the New York City area." There is still an outpost located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, per Commercial Observer, which has been in business since 2008.
Best Life reached out to IKEA for comment on the Queens closure but has yet to hear back.
Queens will lose another furniture store soon.
Peopleimages / iStockHuffman Koos, a beloved furniture retailer with locations in New York and New Jersey, will also be closing two stores. The retailer announced the closures on its Facebook page, confirming that locations in Freehold, New Jersey, and in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York, will both be shut down.
"Nothing will be held back from massive additional discounts at Huffman Koos Queens location on furniture and mattresses store wide during this store closing sale only in Queens!! Hurry!" one Facebook post reads. A similar post adds that customers "can't wait another minute" or they'll miss out on sales at the Freehold location.
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The brand is over 100 years old.
ShutterstockHuffman Koos cites a "lost lease" as the reason for both closures, adding that they must vacate the premises. The stores have no confirmed closure date, but when they do shut down, Huffman Koos will be left with four locations in total, two in New York and two in New Jersey.
The previous owner of the Huffman Koos brand, Breuners Home Furnishings Corp., once operated 47 stores in six states under the names Huffman Koos and Good's Furniture, according to The Asbury Park Press. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2004, with Huffman Koos then acquired by Andrew Mehran, a previous owner of the Moda Furniture chain. The brand itself dates back to 1917 when the first store was opened by the Koos brothers in Rahway, New Jersey. Per The Asbury Park Press, it became Huffman Koos when merging with Huffman Boyle Furniture in 1970.
Best Life also reached out to Huffman Koos for more information on the closures but hasn't heard back.
