LL Flooring to close Ohio stores after bankruptcy filing

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — LL Flooring, a specialty flooring company formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, is closing several central Ohio stores after filing for bankruptcy.

The Virginia-based company filed for Chapter 11 on Sunday and announced it will shutter 94 of its more than 300 locations nationwide. Charles Tyson, president of LL Flooring, said the company is reorganizing for a sale and is in “active negotiations with multiple bidders.”

“A determination was made that initiating this Chapter 11 process is the best path forward for the company,” said Tyson. “Today’s step is intended to provide LL Flooring with additional time and financial flexibility as we reduce our physical footprint and close certain stores while pursuing a going-concern sale of the rest of our business.”

The company cited economic and operational challenges due to inflation and the rising cost of labor, as well as a shift in how often customers are making investments into their home. The closures span locations across 31 states, including California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and the following Ohio locations:

• 454 Ohio Pike in Cincinnati
• 4242 W. Broad St. in Columbus
• 2736 Brice Road in Reynoldsburg
• 6025 Kruse Drive in Solon

LL Flooring is joining a number of other companies that have filed for bankruptcy and are now shuttering Ohio locations. Buca di Beppo filed for Chapter 11 in early August as the company said it owes at least $15 million to $50 million to at least 30 creditors, court documents show. Plans were finalized earlier this year to bulldoze the chain’s Worthington restaurant at 60 E. Wilson Bridge after the site was purchased by Chick-fil-A in April .

Red Lobster is closing a chunk of Ohio locations after filing for bankruptcy in May , citing $1 billion in debt. Bed, Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy last year, shuttering a number of central Ohio stores .

Big Lots is shuttering several Ohio stores , among more than 300 locations that are closing amid speculation the company will file for bankruptcy . While Big Lots initially shared plans in June to shutter 35 to 40 stores by the end of 2024, the number of closures ballooned in July as 149 locations posted banners on their websites that read “closing this location.” Since then, the chain has submitted an updated filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that states the company expects to close up to 315 stores.

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