Home Decor Chain Will Close Several Locations in Illinois and Wisconsin

Yet again, I feel as if this past year has been nothing but bankruptcy and closure stories. It seems it's hard to nail down who is succeeding and who is failing in today's market. For businesses of varying success, the hardest hit recently seem to be the chain stores. Large companies have decided to cut underperforming stores and markets for the betterment of the company, while many are simply going bankrupt. In this case, it's both bankruptcy and closures for a home decor mainstay in Illinois and Wisconsin. Our Iowa stores are still safe... for now.

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This story with the At Home bankruptcy and closure has twisted and turned. Some locations thought to be saved in the turmoil will still be shut down. And I'm not going to lie, piecing together what's actually staying open or closing has been difficult. However, a recent report from the Daily Express has shown an official list of store closures that will see Wisconsin close two locations and Illinois, three.

The five Midwest stores now confirmed to be shuttering by the end of September are:

• Crestwood, Illinois – 13180 S. Cicero Avenue
• Geneva, Illinois – 2100 S. Randall Road
• Peoria, Illinois – 5203 W. War Memorial Drive
• Wauwatosa, Wisconsin – 3201 N. Mayfair Road
• Madison, Wisconsin – 2201 Zeier Road

For shoppers who frequent these spots, the closures mean liquidation sales are already underway. The stores are set to officially close by the end of this month, September 30th. At Home has advertised steep markdowns as it works to clear out remaining inventory, ranging from wall art and patio sets to kitchen essentials and holiday décor. If you’ve been eyeing a particular piece for your home, now may be the time to score a deal before the doors close for good.

The bankruptcy announcement earlier this summer put more than 7,000 employees and over 260 stores nationwide in a cloud of uncertainty. While At Home insists that the majority of its locations will remain open and continue to serve customers, the five closures in Illinois and Wisconsin serve as a reminder of just how fragile the big-box retail landscape is right now. In total, 29 stores will now be shuttered across the U.S.

It’s not just At Home—retailers across the country, from Joann Fabric to Party City, have all filed for bankruptcy protection in the past year. Rising tariffs, heavy debt, and changing consumer habits are forcing chains to adapt quickly or risk fading away entirely. For now, At Home’s future in retail depends on restructuring ownership and trimming these "underperforming" stores.

If you live in Illinois or Wisconsin, you might want to stop by your local store one last time. Hunt for those end-of-it-all, clearance bargains while you say goodbye to another area shopping spot. These final weeks will be the last ones for At Home in several Midwest communities.