Shock as Home Depot rival closes all 15 of its stores and declares bankruptcy thanks to consumers’ reluctance to spend
Americans are tightening their wallets – and another home improvement chain has just paid the price.
A rival to Home Depot has abruptly shut down all of its US locations and filed for bankruptcy, as a cooling housing market and cautious consumers continue to hit the sector hard.
Wren Kitchens – a kitchen design specialist that had been expanding across the East Coast – filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on April 24, closing all 15 of its showrooms almost overnight.
The closures also include Wren’s in-store kitchen studios inside Home Depot locations, ending a partnership launched as recently as 2024.
In a statement, Home Depot said it had no warning.
‘We had no previous notice of Wren’s intent to close, and we’re actively evaluating how this has affected Wren customers,’ the company said.
For customers, the sudden closure raises immediate concerns about unfinished kitchen projects, outstanding orders, and warranties.
One person wrote on Reddit: ‘We paid a deposit and had a scheduled delivery for cabinets on May 5. Haven’t heard anything from the company and can’t get in contact with them!’
Wren Kitchens – a kitchen design specialist that had been expanding across the East Coast – filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on April 24, closing all 15 of its showrooms almost overnight (stock image)
Another added: ‘I got my cabinets delivered yesterday. What should I do? Now I assume warranty and customer service go out the window.
‘Haven’t even opened them yet – what if they are scratched or damaged? Should I charge back on my credit card?’
Home Depot says it is reviewing the situation, but for now, affected shoppers are being told to contact Wren directly through its website – one of the few remaining channels still active.
Wren’s own US website now carries only a brief message confirming the shutdown, directing customers to fill out a form for assistance.
The collapse comes as the home improvement sector faces mounting pressure.
A slowdown in housing activity – combined with higher interest rates and economic uncertainty – has made shoppers more hesitant to spend on big-ticket renovations like kitchens and remodeling projects.
Even industry giant Home Depot has felt the strain, reporting a 3.8 percent drop in quarterly sales at the end of its 2025 fiscal year, though annual sales still edged higher overall.
Wren’s downfall also highlights the intense competition in the home improvement space, where retailers are battling for fewer, more cautious customers.
Wren Kitchens was founded in 2009 in the UK and grew into one of Britain’s largest kitchen retailers, before expanding into the US market in recent years
The closures also include Wren’s in-store kitchen studios inside Home Depot locations, ending a partnership launched as recently as 2024
Chains across the sector have been forced to scale back, close underperforming stores, or, in some cases, seek bankruptcy protection as margins tighten.
For Wren, trading as Wren US Holdings Inc., the move to Chapter 7 liquidation – which typically means a full shutdown rather than restructuring – signals there may be no path forward for its US business.
It filed for bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, listing between $100 million and $500 million in assets.
Wren Kitchens was founded in 2009 in the UK and grew into one of Britain’s largest kitchen retailers before expanding into the US market in recent years.
