© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Beloved chain Christmas Tree Shops is expected to liquidate all of its stores

Christmas Tree Shops began as a holiday boutique in Cape Cod in the 1950s.
Kristoffer Tripplaar
/
Sipa USA via Reuters
Christmas Tree Shops began as a holiday boutique in Cape Cod in the 1950s.

The Massachusetts-based staple Christmas Tree Shops plans to liquidate all of its stores.

The retail chain, known for selling home goods like bedding sets, dinnerware and party decorations at a discount, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May. At the time, the company hoped to close only 10 stores considered to be underperforming and come out of its bankruptcy a stronger, more stable business by the end of August.

But last week, Christmas Tree Shops decided to default on its loan of $45 million, which was used to keep its retaining 72 stores afloat, due to worsening finances, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The chain is expected to liquidate its remaining stores unless a buyer emerges within the next week, according to the news outlet.

Christmas Tree Shops began as a holiday boutique in Cape Cod in the 1950s. Bed Bath & Beyond, which had owned the chain since 2003, sold it to Handil Holdings, LLC, in 2020.

Christmas Tree Shops operated 82 stores in 20 states before filing for bankruptcy. Over the past few months, 10 stores have shuttered in seven states including New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Virginia.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Juliana Kim
Juliana Kim is a weekend reporter for Digital News, where she adds context to the news of the day and brings her enterprise skills to NPR's signature journalism.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.