The RoomPlace: Once a Midwest Furniture Staple
If you’ve lived in Illinois or Indiana, the name The RoomPlace probably sounds familiar. For over a hundred years, this local chain was the spot people hit when they wanted to re-do a living room or pick up a new sectional. The company started way back in 1912 as Harlem Furniture. For decades, families in the Midwest knew that if you wanted practical, decently priced couches, this was one of your go-to options.
But times change, and so do shopping habits. Over the past couple of years, people started asking a simple question: Is The RoomPlace going out of business? As of 2025, the answer is—yes, it’s officially closed.
The Bankruptcy Filing: What Happened in Early 2024?
The big turn came in February 2024, when The RoomPlace filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. If you’re not familiar, Chapter 11 is a form of bankruptcy that lets companies try to reorganize and work out their finances. This isn’t always the end, but it’s rarely a good sign. The RoomPlace was facing a tough retail market, shifting consumer tastes, and increasing competition—think online furniture shops and those giant warehouse chains. So, their main goal was to restructure, cut losses, and maybe keep some stores running.
But even at this early bankruptcy stage, there was a real sense that things were probably not going to return to “normal.” Closing stores was part of the plan from the start.
Store Closures in Illinois and Indiana: The First Wave
Right after the bankruptcy news hit, The RoomPlace announced it would close at least eight stores. These were mostly in Illinois and Indiana, where the brand had its strongest roots. People noticed when the signs went up: “Store Closing—Everything Must Go.” For long-time customers used to weekend trips to check out recliners, this was a shock.
The process wasn’t slow. Selling off inventory is a big part of a bankruptcy deal, so The RoomPlace needed customers coming through those doors fast.
Indianapolis and More: More Closures Follow
Within weeks, other locations joined the closing list. By spring and early summer 2024, it was clear: the closures were spreading, including six stores in Indianapolis. One after another, the company scheduled “final” liquidation sales. Regulars saw familiar staff cleaning out showrooms and packing up the last mattresses and nightstands.
Some people thought a few stores might survive—maybe the chain would cut things back and try to operate on a smaller scale. But as the months went on, that idea faded.
Liquidation Sales: How They Worked and How People Reacted
Liquidation is a word you hear a lot during retail bankruptcies. For The RoomPlace, these sales weren’t handled in-house. Instead, they brought in an outside company, Planned Furniture Promotions, which specializes in managing going-out-of-business events for furniture chains.
If you stopped by any closing RoomPlace location, you probably noticed the difference. Promotional banners everywhere. Discounts grew larger every week—50% off, then 70%, then “final days.” People came from all over, drawn by deals as well as a bit of nostalgia. Some brought their kids, talking about the time they bought their first big sofa. Others just wanted to snag a price you wouldn’t normally see.
Customer reactions were mixed. Some were disappointed, complaining that prices weren’t low enough at the start, or that the selection shrank too quickly. Others left with a truck full of furniture and a sense that they’d gotten a bargain. Either way, the impact on the brand was clear—people now associated the name with going-out-of-business sales, not new beginnings.
2024: The Slow Fade—More Closures and the End of Operations
Through the latter half of 2024, news trickled in about more RoomPlace stores shutting down. By fall, even some of the last “anchor” stores, which had been open for decades, were holding their final clearance events. There were still some bits of hope here and there—rumors about buyers or new deals—but nothing stuck.
Store directories and retail analysts started to list The RoomPlace as “defunct” or “disestablished in 2025.” It was a slow goodbye. By the end of the year, a few locations lingered, mostly to wind up contracts and handle remaining sales. Early in 2025, those final doors closed for good.
The Official End: What’s the Status in 2025?
So, is The RoomPlace going out of business? Official directories and business data say yes. By 2025, there are no open RoomPlace stores anywhere in Illinois, Indiana, or beyond. The main website is down, customer service numbers don’t connect, and there are no new ads appearing in weekend flyers.
It’s not just news outlets saying this, either. Major business trackers and retail lists categorize The RoomPlace as “defunct.” That’s the retail term for completely out of business. Harlem Furniture—the name on their earliest signboards—is also gone.
Looking Back: The RoomPlace’s Century-Long Story
Let’s pause for a second and think about what this means. The RoomPlace was never a slick designer brand, but it was steady and local. The company had a long run, starting as Harlem Furniture in 1912 on Chicago’s West Side. Over the years, they moved headquarters to Lombard, Illinois, and built a chain that grew big in the suburbs.
Kids took naps on their display beds while parents argued about color swatches. Salespeople learned regulars’ names and sometimes saved their favorite recliners “in the back.” Even if you never bought a couch there, chances are you drove by a RoomPlace store at some point.
In a sense, the company tracked the ups and downs of Midwest retail. There were boom periods—especially in the ’90s and early 2000s—when people wanted complete, matching furniture sets. But habits changed. Customers started to shop online, or preferred to mix-and-match from discounters. Overhead went up, and competing with national chains got harder every year.
What Happened to the Brand’s Reputation?
During the final liquidation, customers had a lot to say online. Some felt sad to see a big local player disappear. Others posted about struggle with delayed deliveries or refund issues, which are common when stores are winding down operations.
Online reputation matters, especially with furniture, where shoppers read reviews before spending big money. For The RoomPlace, these last few months dented what had once been a solid regional reputation. Still, a lot of people remembered the friendly staff and easy credit options.
Even now, if you ask around in the Midwest, people remember The RoomPlace as the place they bought their first “grown-up” couch or where someone’s grandmother got her favorite recliner. In the end, that counts for something.
Why Did This Happen? And What Happens Next?
So, why did The RoomPlace end up here? The big reasons were rising costs, changes in how people shop, and lots of competition—especially from online stores shipping directly to consumers. Big chains put pressure on prices, landlords raised rents, and consumers stopped filling whole rooms with matching furniture.
Bankruptcy is a tool meant to offer a last shot at surviving by cutting costs and renegotiating debts. For The RoomPlace, that wasn’t enough. The closure process followed the usual script: bankruptcy filing, quick store closings, inventory liquidation, and, finally, the company disappearing as a business entity.
If you’re curious about retail changes or tracking other companies facing similar trouble, there are more details and resources to explore at places like SeraBusiness, which keeps up with regional closures and the retail market.
The Last Word: Where Things Stand Now
By 2025, The RoomPlace is officially out of business. All signs—including less furniture, closed websites, and official rankings—show the company as defunct. For old customers, it might feel odd to drive past those empty showrooms or see them converted into gyms, storage spaces, or other chain stores.
The furniture world is changing fast, and The RoomPlace’s story is one more sign of the times. If you’re still searching for that perfect couch, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The Midwest furniture market moves on, but the legacy of The RoomPlace will stick with its former customers for a long time.