If you grew up anywhere in the Southeast, you probably saw a Badcock Home Furniture &more store. Maybe your family bought a couch after a move or got a living room set back when smart TVs weighed 100 pounds. For a lot of people in the South, Badcock stores are just part of the background—solid, reliable, always there. Now, for the first time in over a century, Badcock is packing up and shutting down its last stores. So what actually happened?
Over a Century in Business, Now Closing its Doors
Badcock’s been around since 1904. That’s not a typo—it really did start more than 120 years ago in Florida. The company started as a small home furnishings store and grew over the years. It became well-known for affordable payment plans, friendly service, and plenty of locations in smaller towns that usually don’t see national retailers come through.
But in July 2024, Badcock Home Furniture &more announced it was going out of business. They posted on their website and in the stores: everything must go, all locations will be closing. The shock wasn’t just for customers but also for generations of employees, many of whom had worked with the company for decades.
What Changed? The Road to Financial Trouble
Badcock didn’t just fall out of favor overnight. In fact, for most of its history, it did well. The company stuck to selling mid-priced furniture and appliances, usually to working families. Lots of people liked their flexible financing and found the stores more approachable than some of the big national chains.
But after 2020, things got tough. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a huge but short bump in furniture demand, then sales fell back as stimulus money dried up. At the same time, inflation hit, driving up costs for everything from gas to delivery drivers. Badcock was squeezed between higher expenses and customers who suddenly had less to spend.
Then, there’s the competition. Online sellers like Wayfair, Amazon, and even Walmart’s furniture section chipped away at local furniture stores. People started buying sofas with a click, skipping the visit to Badcock altogether. By late 2023, it was clear Badcock needed a big change to survive.
The Conn’s Inc. Acquisition: A Lifeline That Didn’t Work
That’s when Conn’s Inc. stepped in. If you don’t know Conn’s, they’re another furniture and appliance chain—a little bigger, a little more spread out. Conn’s was also facing tough times, but they bet that acquiring Badcock could help both companies survive.
So, late in 2023, Conn’s bought Badcock Home Furniture for about $214 million. On paper, they could pool resources and try to compete together. But as it turned out, both companies brought debt and risk. Instead of getting stronger, the combined business just had bigger problems.
By spring 2024, Conn’s and Badcock were both struggling with cash flow. Customers were holding on to their money, supply chain issues lingered, and stores in smaller towns weren’t turning enough profit to keep the doors open.
Filing for Bankruptcy: Chapter 11 and Liquidation
By July 2024, the writing was on the wall. Both Conn’s and Badcock filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. If you aren’t familiar with Chapter 11, it’s meant to give a struggling company some breathing room to reorganize and maybe pull through.
But that wasn’t possible this time. The official company message was clear: “We are going out of business, and all stores will be closing over the coming months.” Badcock had just started its 120th year. Instead of a celebration, they were meeting with creditors and liquidation experts.
The companies quickly shifted gears and started planning to sell off every lamp, couch, and recliner. They told employees and shoppers that final closures would happen by the end of October 2024.
Store Closures Across the Southeast and Beyond
Badcock operated about 380 stores at its peak—most in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas, but also some in Virginia and as far west as Texas. These weren’t just city stores. In many small towns, Badcock was one of the only places to buy new furniture locally.
Store closures have already started. Several Georgia locations were among the first to list “store closing” signs, followed by stores in Alabama and Florida. By late summer, Badcock expects almost all locations to be in some stage of closing down—either winding down inventory or already emptied out.
If you drive past a Badcock now, there’s a good chance you’ll see banners promising “Final Weeks” or “Liquidation Sale.” For people who relied on the store for decades, that’s a strange thing to see.
What Happens to the Employees and Shoppers?
The closure means job losses for hundreds, possibly thousands, of employees. Some workers had been with Badcock for decades. Others were second- or third-generation employees—a real family business for many in the South. For them, there’s not just the loss of a paycheck, but also the end of a local institution. Some may find work at remaining local furniture stores, but many smaller towns simply won’t have comparable jobs available.
If you’re a Badcock customer, you’re probably wondering about warranties, financing, or that new bed you just put on layaway. Right now, all stores are holding liquidation sales. In most cases, sales are final and there aren’t returns. Some stores offer steep discounts, but the inventory is shrinking fast. If you need help with a recent purchase, Badcock has posted updates on its website and social media, with instructions for contacting their customer service lines.
For anyone with an outstanding Badcock credit account, you’ll still need to make payments. The accounts are being managed as part of the company’s wind-down process. If you bought furniture recently, you’ll want to pick it up or arrange delivery before the stores close for good. This is a good time to check in directly with your local store and double check everything.
The Furniture Industry Has Been Having a Hard Time
Badcock’s struggles aren’t an isolated story. If you’ve paid attention to retail news over the past few years, you’ve probably noticed several furniture and home goods stores have downsized or vanished. Family-owned stores have closed in droves, and even massive national chains like Bed Bath & Beyond have disappeared.
It’s partly about changing habits. More people are shopping online for everything, including furniture. In the past, most folks wanted to sit on a couch before buying it. Now, people are happy to order a whole living room set from their phone. That’s tough competition for traditional furniture stores with overhead costs, showrooms, and big local payrolls.
Another challenge: inflation and higher interest rates. When monthly budgets get squeezed, new sofas or mattresses go straight to the bottom of the shopping list. Rising rent and mortgage rates leave less room for “nice to have” upgrades at home.
Even bigger chains with more resources are feeling the burn. Many have closed stores or cut back inventory. Smaller, family-run stores are even more vulnerable, with less cushion to fall back on when there’s a bad year.
If you want a clearer look at how businesses are grappling with these changes across industries, you can check out sites like Serabusiness.com, which cover the details behind retail closures and strategies in much more depth.
What Does Badcock’s Closure Mean for Small Towns and Shoppers?
A lot of Badcock’s stores were the only furniture retailers for miles. That’s going to leave a gap—especially in smaller towns, where big-box stores or online delivery don’t always offer the same service. It also means fewer jobs, less tax revenue locally, and even storefronts sitting empty long-term. In some places, that might mean slower recovery for Main Streets already hit hard by other retail closures.
For shoppers, the reality is a bit more mixed. Yes, there are deals now if you’re fast. But after that, online or chain options will likely fill the void, although not always at the same prices or with the same sense of local connection. Delivery times can be longer and warranties might get complicated if you’re not careful.
Some former Badcock locations could get snapped up by other retail businesses, gyms, or even independent furniture stores. But a lot of those spaces may just sit empty. This pattern matches what we’ve seen in retail generally. The closure is about more than dollars—it’s about changes in how and where people buy what they need for their homes.
The End of Badcock Home Furniture—And What’s Next
So, what’s left of Badcock after October 2024? Not much, except for memories and maybe a heavily discounted loveseat or dresser. At the end of the day, this is one more chapter in a bigger story about shifts in American retail, changing buying habits, and how tough it is for even established businesses to survive.
Most industry insiders are watching to see who—if anyone—steps in to try what Badcock did for so long: making furniture affordable and accessible to regular people, and anchoring small-town shopping centers. We’ll just have to wait and see if another brand or business can fill that gap.
As of now, the last few stores are closing up shop, and the remaining inventory is going quickly. For the company and its customers, it’s the end of an era. For everyone else, it’s another sign that retail—especially furniture—keeps changing faster than anyone can plan for.