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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Chapter 7 bankruptcy: 100-year-old furniture chain liquidated
Furniture chains seem to be perpetually going out of business. Badcock Furniture, for example, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2024 and took nearly a year to actually close all of its stores. A zombie version of the brand was still sending out emails, long after it seemed like a good idea to give the chain cash without having eyes on the furniture you were purchasing. Related: Billion dollar technology company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy That generally happens because, like many retailers, furniture chains bring in a liquidation company to sell off their inventory. In many cases, those companies will keep some stores open to consolidate inventory and sell off as much as possible. That can take time, which explains why it seems like months where you see people holding "Going out of business forever" signs directing you to the sales. While there have been a lot of retail bankruptcies in general, the furniture industry has faced excessive struggles. There's no one reason why smaller chains and family-owned furniture chains have struggled, according to Ray Allegrezza, executive director of the International Home Furnishings Representative Association. "There's this sense that it's just not fun anymore for some of these guys. You've got e-comm growing, you've got a tough business economy, you've got younger consumers that do not want heirloom furniture - it all makes perfect sense why these independents are shrinking," he told Business of Home. When RoomPlace filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over a year ago, it planned to reorganize and stay open. Struggling stores would close, and the company would emerge stronger than ever. Since the company has been around since 1912, its closing seemed almost unfathomable. "We Make Furniture Buying Easy! For those who don't know us, The RoomPlace is all about making furniture buying easy. We start by having a bilingual sales team to answer any of your questions. Our showrooms feature completely furnished, coordinated rooms created by the company's team of experienced designers," the company shared on its website. Related: Iconic retail chain shuts down its remaining stores in bankruptcy It was a customer-first business designed, in recent years, to combat the internet by letting customers be hands-on. "The RoomPlace concept allows you to experience a total-room concept and select the perfect design that meets your individual tastes and needs. At The RoomPlace, you save on every piece of furniture you buy and save even more when you buy a complete room," the chain added. At the time of its Chapter 11 filing, it had a clear plan. RoomPlace, a Lombard, Ill., furniture retail chain with 26 locations, planned to close six stores in the Indianapolis area, one in Kenosha, Wis., and one in Peoria, Ill., at the time of its filing. The chain planned to wind down operations from the eight stores through a contract with Planned Furniture Promotions, which conducted store closing sales. The retailer's CEO Bruce Berman reportedly said that the company is closing the eight stores to concentrate on strengthening its 18 stores in Chicagoland. He mentioned declining retail sales across the country and challenges in the furniture industry as having an impact on its decision to file bankruptcy. Those plans, however, quickly fell apart, and the company was eventually forced to close all of its stores. No formal Chapter 7 bankruptcy was filed, but the Chapter 11 essentially was converted when the decision was made that the company had no clear path forward. More Retail: Supermarket inflation: Beef prices soar as egg prices fallLevi's shares plan to beat tariffs, keep holiday prices downAmazon's quiet pricing twist on tariffs stuns shoppers RoomPlace CEO Bruce Berman had been hopeful at the time of the initial filing. "We're making the tough decisions now to ensure we're around for another 100 years," he told Furniture Today. RoomPlace, founded in 1912, planned to restructure under Chapter plan failed, leading to full liquidation of all case reflects a broader crisis hitting furniture chains like At Home and Conn's have also filed in the past year. American Mattress Filed: Mid‑July 2025, American Mattress - founded in 1988 and operating nearly 100 stores across IL, IN, MI, FL, and MO - filed for Chapter 11 protectionRestructuring: The company announced it will close approximately 52 stores, mostly in Illinois and Indiana. Remaining locations in Michigan, Florida, and Missouri will remain open. Assets and liabilities are modest (under $10 million). At Home (home décor and furniture chain) Filed: June 16, 2025, At Home (approx. 260 US locations) filed Chapter 11, citing nearly $2 billion in debt and severe financial pressure from tariffs, inflation, and shifting customer Obtained $600 million in financing (including $200 million new capital); lenders led by Redwood, Farallon, Anchorage are set to take will close 24 stores (a number that has been changing) by September 30, 2025, while continuing operations at the rest and aiming to emerge from bankruptcy by October 2025. American Freight (Sears Outlet conversion) Filed: As part of parent Franchise Group's Chapter 11 filing on November 3, 2024, American Freight was included. The wind‑down began Began store‑closing sales on November 5, planning to shut down all 300+ stores by end of January 2025, a U.S. court approved the sale of 28 stores and one distribution center to a new company (AF Newco I LLC), which plans to reopen those locations later in 2025. Conn's HomePlus and Badcock Home Furniture Filed: Conn'sHomePlus (which acquired Badcock in December 2023) filed for Chapter 11 in July 2024 and announced plans to close 73 of 170 stores. Sister chain Badcock was also slated for wind‑down by October 2024. Outcome: Both brands were liquidated. Related: Beloved fast-food restaurant chain files Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Resettled Bru migrant Zothanga ends 5-day hunger strike in Tripura after Govt assurance
Zothanga, 77, a Reang migrant from Mizoram resettled in North Tripura district's Ashapara, ended his five-day-long hunger strike on Monday after the Tripura Government assured him that it had requested the Centre to increase the ration quota to cover the entire population of Bru migrants in the state. Zothanga started the hunger strike with three demands — immediate disbursal of rations for all resettled Bru families under the Antyodaya Annapurna Yojana (AAY), proper registration and documentation of residential plots, allocation of five hectares of agricultural land per family as per the agreement between Government of India, the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram, and Bru migrants in 2020. The hunger strike was called off after he received an assurance from Kanchanpur Subdivisional Magistrate Deepak Kumar in a letter that he wrote to the Ashapara resettlement colony in-charge, Bruno Msha. 'As per information received from revenue and food and civil supplies department, the Government of Tripura has officially requested Govt of India to increase the quota for AAY so that the entire Bru population can get ration under the AAY. As soon as that request is approved, the facility will be extended to the entire Bru population,' the SDM wrote on July 20. Stating that the ration relief quota was 'limited as of now', the SDM urged the Bru leaders to end the agitation since Zothanga was in a vulnerable shape. 'As a community, we have to help each other and the Government is also working to expand the AAY quota for the whole Bru population,' he said while stating that the administration was also discussing at the highest level the demands for plot registration in the name of the head of beneficiary families and allotment of land for agriculture. As a part of a Rs 600-crore resettlement package, the Bru migrants will get free rations and Rs 5,000 monthly per family for two years. The families will also get a Rs 1.5 lakh one-time financial support and Rs 4 lakh for constructing permanent houses. Meanwhile, six signatories of the 2020 quadripartite Bru agreement – Bruno Msha, Apeto Sawibunga, Philip Apeto, Vipin Kumar Reang, T Laldingliana and C Thankima wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, apprising him of the situation, expressing solidarity with Zothanga's protest and requesting the central government to consider the demands of the hunger strike. However, the issue took a new turn after the local administration of Kanchanpur registered an FIR against eight residents of the Ashapara resettlement colony, accusing them of instigating Zothanga to start the hunger strike. Zothanga's 'supporters' booked for attempt to murder SDM Deepak Kumar wrote to the Kanchanpur subdivisional police officer on Monday, 'Mr Zothanga, resident of Ashapara, has been on hunger strike for past 6 days, who is being instigated by other residents including Gobinda Reang (secretary Ashapara camp), Dobwung Reang D/o Zothanga, Joherung Reang, Malsawma Reang, Biaki Reang, Rinchhana s/o Zothanga , Daniala Apeto s/o Zothanga and Achaushsa Bru S/o Lalhmingthanga to fulfil their demands.' His letter also said that 'as per medical check-up', Zothanga was not in a fair state of mind for giving proper instruction and receiving too and, thus, making decisions and providing consent, as a result of which, on his behalf other residents stationed nearby him were allegedly passing several instructions which is making him bound to stay there without any food and proper medical treatment. 'This type of action may lead to the undesired consequences including death of Mr Zothanga, who is already 77 years of age,' the SDM wrote and got the FIR registered on charges of attempt to murder, depriving a senior citizen of proper medical care, and binding down a senior citizen to a fixed place without food.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bru leaders seek HM's intervention on resettlement issues in Tripura
Guwahati: The Bru signatories of the Quadripartite Bru Agreement on Monday submitted a memorandum to home minister Amit Shah , seeking his immediate proactive intervention to pave the way for justice and improved living conditions for Bru families resettled in Tripura. The Quadripartite Bru Agreement initiated by Shah was signed on Jan 16, 2020. It is a landmark deal aimed at resolving the long-standing humanitarian crisis of the Bru (Reang) refugees, who fled ethnic violence in Mizoram and lived in relief camps in Tripura for over two decades. The agreement was signed between MHA, govts of Tripura and Mizoram and representatives of Bru refugees. The Bru leaders also expressed solidarity with a 77-year-old member of the community, Zothanga, who is on an indefinite hunger strike to advocate for the fundamental rights and dignity of the Bru resettled families across the 13 settlement locations in Tripura. "We implore you to consider Zothanga's demands and take necessary steps to address the grievances of the Bru families," they submitted in the memorandum reminding Shah that his commitment made during his visit on March 9 on issuance of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards. They urged that AAY ration cards are issued immediately, along with an increase of 5kg of ration per head. "This increment is vital to addressing the nutritional needs of every Bru family, ensuring food security, and enhancing our quality of life," they stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo They also pressed for allocation of agricultural land as per the Quadripartite Bru Agreement as "land is not just a piece of property: it represents opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and food sovereignty. Empowering us to cultivate our lands will enable us to provide for our families with dignity and respect." They further urged that each resettled Bru family deserves a legal housing plot of 30x40sqft complete with registered ownership documents.
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Tripura CM slams left front for using Janajati community for vote bank politics
Agartala (Tripura) [India], July 15 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Monday that the development of the country is not possible without developing the Janajati community. In view of this, he wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address some of the problems faced by the Bru people in the state. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the District Level Mega Campaign on Dharti Aaba Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan at Gobinda Community Hall, Jirania Sub-Division. He criticised the previous left-front-led government of the state for using the Janajati community as a vote bank. 'They (CPM led govt) used the Janajati community for vote bank politics. Now, the BJP government always thinks about the people and the development of the Janajati community by making them self-reliant. The way PM Modi connects with people through Mann Ki Baat, I doubt if any leader in the world connects like that. We are public representatives, but we must not forget who we are here for; we must work for the people,' CM Saha said. He highlighted the efforts of the BJP government since 2018 to improve their condition. Highlighting the importance of helping the backwards classes, the Tripura CM noted that several community members have also held high offices, including President Murmu. 'If we can't develop the backwards class people, then the development of the country is not possible. PM Modi has been working for the Janajati people since 2014. Our President of India also belongs to the Janajati community, and one Janajati--who belongs to our royal family--is the Governor of Telangana. All such things have been possible because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' he said. 'What PM Modi says, he does. We really feel proud to have such a Prime Minister. He has been working to make the country stronger and to ensure a safe future for the next generation,' Manik Saha added. CM Saha further said that in Tripura, the present state government is providing various beneficiary schemes to the people, ranging from drinking water, hostels for Janajati students, tribal multipurpose marketing centres, and giving land pattas. Under the Dharti Aaba Jan Bhagidari, 779 Gram Panchayats and Village Councils will benefit, with 20 departments involved in the initiative, the CM emphasised. During the event, Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma, social worker Bipin Debbarma, West District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar, Dr K Sashikumar (Secretary, Tribal Welfare), West District ki SP Kiran Kumar, and others were present. (ANI)
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Saha seeks Shah intervention to resolve problems faced by Brus
Agartala: Tripura chief minister Manik Saha on Monday said he has written to Union home minister Amit Shah , seeking his intervention to resolve several problems being faced by members of the Bru community in the state. Addressing a gathering during the district-level mega campaign under the Dharti Aaba Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan at Jirania sub-division in West Tripura, Saha said, "I recently met with people from the Bru community and learned about the challenges they are still facing. Accordingly, I have written to the home minister to ensure their issues are addressed at the earliest." The chief minister accused the previous Left govt of neglecting the Bru Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and emphasised the BJP-led govt's continued efforts since 2018 to improve their condition. Saha underlined the importance of inclusive development, saying, "Unless we uplift the backward communities, the country cannot progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working tirelessly for the welfare of Janajati communities since 2014." He added that India today takes pride in its inclusive leadership, mentioning that the President of India hails from a Janajati background, and that the governor of Telangana is also from a Janajati community and belongs to Tripura's royal family. "These developments have been made possible due to Prime Minister Modi's commitment to empowering indigenous communities. What he promises, he delivers," Saha said.
