Full Breakdown
Wren Kitchens' U.S. Shutdown Leaves Customers and Employees in Limbo
4/30/2026, 12:42:05 AM
Sudden Shutdown & Bankruptcy
Wren Kitchens, UK kitchen designer partnered with Home Depot, closed all U.S. showrooms on April 23, 2026, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 24. The move shuttered 15 East-Coast stores without prior notice to customers or staff.
Timeline
April 23 2026: Employees learned of the closure via Zoom; computers shut down. Later, homeowners found installations halted. April 24: Wren US filed Chapter 7. April 26: William Crompton filed a WARN-Act class action. State agencies opened investigations.
Customer Losses
Deposits range from $11,000 to $23,000. Melissa Dethlefsen (CT) paid $23,000 for cabinets that never arrived; Perry Ragusa (NY) spent $2,000 plus $10,000 in uncashed checks; Richard Follo (PA) deposited $13,000 before the order was canceled. NBC10 reports checks over $20,000 cashed without receiving goods.
Criticism
Manager Anes Hodzic said staff saw black screens as computers shut down and received no pink slips. Employees learned of the closure via Zoom and received no severance. William Crompton filed a class-action suit alleging violation of the WARN Act’s 60-day notice requirement for layoffs of over 100 workers.
Official Responses
Home Depot said it had no prior notice of the closure and is evaluating how to assist affected customers. Connecticut’s Attorney General and the Department of Consumer Protection opened investigations, urging consumers to file complaints and consider the Home Improvement Guarantee Fund, which can reimburse up to $25,000 for non-compliant contracts. Eric Parker (Channel 3) advised creditors to file claims in bankruptcy and explore the fund for restitution.
Conflicts & Gaps
Sources differ on the U.S. footprint: the New York Post lists 15 stores, while other outlets mention only “several” showrooms. Total number of impacted customers is not disclosed. Wren’s legal representatives have not responded, leaving liability and the scope of consumer losses uncertain.
Quotes
- “As a family of five, it's been hard to live in one room essentially. So to be so close and then have it ripped away, it's like devastating.” — Melissa Dethlefsen, Connecticut homeowner
- “As soon as they got our money, a month later they closed. I haven't slept since.” — Richard Follo, Pennsylvania homeowner
- “No warning from them… Just out of nowhere closed up and left this kitchen like this.” — Perry Ragusa, New York homeowner
- “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 Newington showroom manager
Next Steps
Creditors should file proofs of claim in the Chapter 7 case. State investigations may lead to enforcement or restitution via the Home Improvement Guarantee Fund. The WARN-Act class action will proceed, affecting any remaining assets for creditors.
