A home improvement store chain to shut down 5 locations in Florida due to bankruptcy issues

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Big changes are coming to Florida’s home improvement scene as LL Flooring, the company once known as Lumber Liquidators, is shutting down five of its stores across the state. This isn’t just a Florida issue—LL Flooring is going through a massive restructuring nationwide after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which will affect 94 stores in 31 states.

A Bit of Background

LL Flooring’s troubles date back to 2015 when a damaging "60 Minutes" report accused the company of selling laminate flooring from China with unsafe levels of formaldehyde. That scandal hit the company hard. They had to deal with legal battles, plead guilty to environmental crimes and false statements, and eventually settle with state officials. On top of that, consumer-led class action lawsuits piled up, adding to their financial woes.

Why It Matters to Florida

Here in Florida, the timing of these closures couldn’t be more interesting. The state’s housing market is still booming, with more people moving in and the demand for home renovation products staying strong. LL Flooring pulling out of key locations leaves a big gap in the market. It’s a move that might force Floridians to look elsewhere when they need materials for their flooring projects.

This shake-up isn’t happening in a vacuum, either. We’ve seen other retailers like Big Lots and Conn’s also announcing closures recently, which highlights just how tough the retail landscape is right now, especially for brick-and-mortar stores.

Where Are the Florida Stores Closing?

Here’s a quick rundown of the Florida LL Flooring stores that are set to close:

• Clearwater Showroom - 2613 Gulf to Bay Blvd.
• Florida City - 33550 S. Dixie Highway
• Gainesville - 2607 NW 13th St.
• St. Augustine - 330 CBL Dr.
• Tampa - 8444 W. Hillsborough Ave.

With these closures, Florida homeowners and renovators will have to adjust their plans and find new go-to spots for their flooring needs. It’s a significant shift in the home improvement landscape, and it’ll be interesting to see how the market adapts.