Tick-tock as 54-year-old hardware chain to shut doors for good as April closure date approaches
AN INDEPENDENT hardware retailer will completely shut its doors firstly of subsequent month.
Harpeth True Value Home Center has been scheduled to shut on April 1 in Franklin, Tennessee, as other True Value locations have additionally been forced to shut.
The closure was introduced on social media lately, and the publish identified that the shop had fought towards massive companies like The Home Depot, Lowe’s and amazon.
Harpeth True Value Home Center wrote on Facebook: “Like many small, impartial companies throughout the nation, monetary realities and the altering retail panorama have made it inconceivable for us to proceed.
“This determination was not made evenly. It comes after deep reflection, numerous conversations, and a honest want to discover an off-ramp to one other path ahead.
“Unfortunately, this is where our journey must come to an end.”
Owner Mike Outlaw mentioned that the shop had struggled with the decline in its lumber business.
This accounted for 70% to 80% of the retailer’s gross sales.
Outlaw had tried to promote the enterprise and did meet with a number of potential patrons, however a deal couldn’t be reached.
He added: “I did everything I could do to find a buyer, but this is the last thing I wanted to do: close the business.”
There usually are not presently any plans to file for bankruptcy safety.
Harpeth True Value is an independently owned retailer that is a part of the True Value cooperative.
Retail Apocalypse: brick-and-mortar struggles
The “retail apocalypse” started within the 2010s and accelerated throughout the pandemic due to components just like the rise of e-commerce, shifting shopper habits, and the consequences of the 2008 monetary disaster, all pushing mass brick-and-mortar closures and bankruptcies.
At the beginning of final 12 months, consultants estimated 15,000 retailer closures in 2025 – greater than double 2024’s numbers and the best quantity seen because the pandemic.
Numerous retail giants shut down shops in 2025, together with:
- Department shops: Macy’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue/Saks Off fifth
- Specialty and craft shops: Joann, Party City, Claire’s
- Drugstores: Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid
- Apparel shops: Forever 21, Foot Locker, Carter’s, Gap, REI
- Groceries and residential items: Big Lots, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Kroger, American Signature, At Home
- Electronics and leisure: GameStop, Best Buy, Regal Cinemas
Retail consultants anticipate a continued wave of shutdowns in 2026 as companies adapt to shifting shopper habits, optimize their retailer footprints, and deal with financial headwinds.
Several firms have already introduced retailer closures for this 12 months, a lot of that are following 2025’s closure efforts, together with:
- Macy’s
- Kroger
- Yankee Candle
- Saks off fifth
- REI
- Walgreens
- GameStop
- Carter’s
- Foot Locker
True Value cooperative is owned by member-owned cooperative Do It Best.
The cooperative may also shut one other retailer in Mountain View, Californialater this 12 months.
Blossom True Value Hardware will shut this summer when its lease expires.
