At Home enters bankruptcy amid tariff concerns

• "We are operating against the backdrop of an increasingly dynamic and rapidly evolving trade environment as we navigate the impact of tariffs," At Home announced Monday.

The big picture: At Home now joins other major retailers — including Joann, Bed Bath & Beyond, Party City and Conn's — that have filed for bankruptcy in recent years.

The latest: At Home recently reached a restructuring agreement with lenders with more than 95% of the company's debt.

• The process includes filing for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy and changing ownership.
• The company plans to close 26 stores by Sept. 30 — none are in Texas, per the Des Moines Register.

Flashback: In 2022, the company moved its headquarters from Plano to the Cypress Waters development. The building was big enough to accommodate 1,000 employees over the next 10 years.

• At Home was expecting to expand to 600 stores. The company currently has 260 stores, per court filings.

What's next: At Home says most of its stores will continue to operate in the "normal course of business."

• The company's return policies, loyalty program and gift cards will remain. The website will also make sales.
• "At Home is not shutting down," the company says.

Reality check: Though filing for bankruptcy isn't a death sentence, it's common for a company to say it will stay open and shut down later.

• But JCPenney, headquartered in Plano, outlived its bankruptcy proceedings. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2020, closing around 200 locations.
• Mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. acquired most of the company's retail and operating assets, enabling hundreds of JCPenney stores to stay open.