79-year-old appliance chain closes all locations, no bankruptcy

When a restaurant closes, it usually doesn’t have a financial impact on customers unless they order pre-paid food or pay an advance deposit for a party or other event.

But when a retail chain closes, it can have deeper financial impacts. Customers may have ordered and paid for items that were not delivered, and some may have financed larger items directly through the company.

You’ll still be required to pay for financed items or purchases made with a company-specific credit card.

“Even if a retailer files for bankruptcy, you’ll still be responsible for paying off your balance. Generally, retail credit cards are issued through a finance company separate from the store itself, which means any debt you owe belongs to the bank, not the store. This is even true for ‘closed-loop’ cards that only apply to certain retailers.” Bank rate reported.

This becomes even more difficult when it comes to items you paid for but did not receive.

When a company closes before delivering your paid order, consumers must take certain steps. According to the Better Business Bureau:

• Collect receipts, proof of purchase, and other documentation such as warranties and manuals. These materials will help you prepare for your settlement request.

• Check with the debit or credit card you used to shop with the now-closed company. You may object to the transaction(s) based on your inability to receive goods or services.

• Try contacting the company to complete the transaction or resolve the issue. Some companies that have closed will offer an email, website or phone number to contact for more information.

• If the company has not filed for bankruptcy, the business is still obligated to fulfill your order for goods or services or provide a refund. Closing a business does not relieve the owner of this responsibility. Although it can be time-consuming and expensive, the consumer can take the company to court.

• For returns: If you have a warranty on an item you purchased from a store, investigate whether the manufacturer or the store provides the warranty.. If the manufacturer gives the warranty, they will most likely honor it. When a company goes bankrupt, its warranties and services usually end unless other agreements are made.

In bankruptcy, consumers often become unsecured creditors, leaving them at the back of the pack when it comes to getting paid.

Customers of Howard’s Appliance should follow the advice above, as the chain suddenly closed all of its doors but had not filed for bankruptcy protection as of December 6.

A week after its Black Friday sales, the nearly 80-year-old Howard’s Appliance chain is closing all its stores in Southern California, giving employees only one day’s notice and offering nothing to customers, leaving orders in limbo. The Orange County Register reported.

As of December 6, the chain’s website could not be reached.

According to the newspaper, “The notice signed by Howard’s general manager of logistics, Isaiah Padilla, states that the company has closed its business operations as of December 6 due to ‘circumstances beyond our control.'”

Padilla could not be reached for comment Dec. 5.

More Retail:

News of the closure spread on social media.

“My parent ordered a new line from Howard’s and this morning found they were all closed? They haven’t received the line yet and it looks like all stores are closing starting tomorrow. Mom called four different stores and no one is picking up the phone.” A user wrote on Reddit.

Another poster also confirmed the closures.

Related: 123-year-old retail chain closes popular shopping mall

“After reading this I rushed over to their store in Tustin because we’ve had so many problems since our order four months ago. We’re still waiting on a few items. The lights are off, just a closed sign, and the hours have been erased from the window,” helloninterwebs3 wrote.

There is no public record of a bankruptcy filing as of December 6.

• According to a report, the company was acquired by private equity firm S5 Equity in early 2025. Press release.

• Howard’s closed All Southern California stores, as of December 2025 The Orange County Register reported.

• Employees were reportedly notified of their termination on December 4, 2025, without any public warning. News minimalist.

• The closure affects the company’s network of approximately 17 locations in Southern California. the Added Orange County Register.

• The company closed its Upland, CA store (effective September 16, 2020), citing poor sales, poor local retail conditions and a shift toward investing in newer locations among past closures, according to a report. Press release.

• In 2024, a location previously acquired under the name Midway Home Solutions and rebranded as Howard’s in Victorville also closed. Victor Valley News reported.

Related: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s rival are closing more restaurants

This story was first published by . Street First appeared on December 6, 2025 Retail section. Add TheStreet at: Preferred Source by clicking here.