Wren Kitchens' US parent entity has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in Delaware, following the sudden closure of all American showrooms and in-store design studios. The move marks a formal court-supervised wind-down, where nonexistent assets will be sold to repay creditors.
The voluntary petition, submitted on April 24, lists both assets and liabilities in the range of $100 million to $500 million, according to Bankruptcy Observer, citing PACER records. The case remains active on the docket as of Monday.
Customers who paid thousands for kitchen renovations are now facing uncertainty, with many reporting that they are unlikely to receive their orders. Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection has confirmed an investigation into the matter, advising affected consumers to send certified refund requests directly to the store where they made their purchase.
Wren Kitchens has stated that it is exiting the US market to focus on its core UK business, noting that its US arm is a separate legal entity accounting for approximately 4% of the company's overall turnover. The company emphasized that operations in the UK remain unaffected.
The abrupt closure caught Home Depot, which hosted Wren design studios within its locations, off guard. Home Depot told WFSB that it had no advance warning of Wren's immediate shutdown and confirmed that all US operations, including the in-store studios, have ended.
Wren operated 15 showrooms across four states and had a 252,000-square-foot manufacturing site in Pennsylvania, following its US debut in Connecticut in 2020. The company's sudden exit has left many customers with half-completed renovations. Melissa Dethlefsen told NBC Connecticut that Wren is holding over $23,000 from her, while Gloria Dorau, out more than $20,000, said, "My head is just spinning."
Employees were given almost no advance notice. Former staff told WFSB that the news of the immediate shutdown came abruptly during a Zoom call around 3 p.m. Thursday. Anes Hodzic, who managed the Newington showroom, stated, "No one got any pink slips."
A class-action complaint has been filed in bankruptcy court, alleging that Wren US Holdings and related entities violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which typically requires employers with at least 100 workers to provide 60 days' notice before mass layoffs or plant closures.
The collapse comes amid a patchy demand for high-end home projects. Home Depot, the largest US home-improvement retailer and Wren's in-store partner, reported a 3.8% decline in fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 sales, though full-year sales rose 3.2%. CEO Ted Decker cited "ongoing consumer uncertainty and pressure in housing."
Under Chapter 7, a trustee will oversee the sale of assets and distribution of funds to creditors, a process that offers no guarantee of refunds for customers. The first creditors' meeting is scheduled for May 20 in Delaware, with David W. Carickhoff appointed as interim trustee. The hearing is expected to provide clarity on available assets and the claims process for customers, suppliers, and former staff.
