Full Breakdown
Wren Kitchens Abruptly Closes U.S. Showrooms, Leaving Customers and Workers in Uncertainty
4/28/2026, 3:44:31 AM
Sudden Shutdown of U.S. Operations
On Thursday, April 24 2026, Wren Kitchens posted a website notice: “Our showrooms and studios are now closed.” The announcement covered its two Connecticut showrooms in Milford and Newington, all Home Depot design studios in the state, and every other U.S. showroom—including locations in Pennsylvania, Long Island, New York, and Conshohocken. The site’s ordering portal was disabled and no replies were received to customer inquiries.
Impact and Criticism
Customers lost tens of thousands of dollars; Melissa Dethlefsen paid $23,000 for cabinets that will not arrive, and Gloria Dorau spent $20,000 on a gutted kitchen. More than three dozen Connecticut staff and “hundreds” nationwide were terminated without notice, affecting many families, with former manager Anes Hodzic confirming locked computers, no severance, and loss of health benefits the next day.
Official Responses and Investigation
Home Depot said Wren “has alerted us that they’ve ceased operations in the United States” and urged customers to contact the retailer directly. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection opened an investigation, recommending certified-mail refund requests. The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Rapid Response Unit noted no WARN Act notice was filed and offered job-center assistance.
Conflicting Reports and Information Gaps
State agencies confirm the lack of a WARN notice, yet Wren Kitchens has not replied to any inquiries, leaving the refund timeline uncertain. Its website provides only a generic contact form, and no public statement explains how or when customers will be reimbursed.
Next Steps
The DCP will continue currently monitoring refund requests, while the Labor Department will help displaced workers via American Job Centers. Legal analysts note that the missing WARN notice could expose Wren Kitchens to litigation. Customers are advised to keep documentation, contact their banks, and follow DCP guidance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We paid them with a check, and they cashed it. And so they have all of our money. They have over $23,000 from us, and we don't know what's going on,” — Melissa Dethlefsen, customer
- “My head is just spinning. And I know my husband is very upset about it,” — Gloria Dorau, customer
- “Our manager kind of comes, and just kind of grabs us out of the blue… we go outside, and he kind of tells us, like, oh, we all just lost our jobs. Our company is shut down,” — Madison Cohen, former kitchen designer
- “No one got any pink slips. No one got anything. Once they walked out of the offices, all the computers went black, black screens,” — Anes Hodzic, former manager
