After three years of slow sales, At Home, a store known for its home and holiday decorations is set to close its location in St. Paul's Midway Marketplace by September 12.
The store, located along the Green Line in St. Paul's Midway area, will shut its doors for good.
Store Closures and Final Sale Announcements
"Store Closing" and "Nothing Held Back" signs filled At Home on Friday, signaling a closing sale in full swing. The Yahoo News reports that outside on University Avenue, sign holders promoted the event, catching the attention of passersby.
Meanwhile, another At Home location in Syracuse, N.Y., is also preparing to shut down by August 1.
According to The U.S. Sun, the closing sale at the At Home store has not specified the exact discount rates yet, but similar sales at other locations, like the Syracuse store, have seen price cuts of up to 30%.
The specific reasons for the store's closure have not been disclosed.
Local shoppers are not surprised by the upcoming closure of the At Home store, expressing their thoughts on social media.
One user suggested that the retail location might be better suited for residential use due to its poor retail success. Others noted that the parking lot often seemed empty, indicating low customer traffic.
The St. Paul store opened in 2021 and is part of a national chain that began as Garden Ridge Pottery in Schertz, Texas. In 2014, the company rebranded itself as At Home and moved its headquarters to Dallas.
It now operates over 250 stores nationwide, covering about 100,000 square feet.
At Home is known for its extensive selection of home decor items, offering approximately 45,000 unique products per store.
The closure of the St. Paul location follows a pattern of closures across various states, including a recent shutdown in Iowa and multiple closures in New York, California, Illinois, and Texas throughout 2022 and 2023.
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Walmart Exit Reflects St. Paul Retail Shifts
At Home is not the first major retailer to exit the shopping center, following Walmart's departure in September 2019.
CBS News stated that Walmart has decided to close its Supercenter at 1450 University Ave. W in Saint Paul, according to spokesperson Tiffany Wilson.
After a thorough review, the company made this tough decision, citing the store's overall performance among several factors influencing their choice.
Moreover, the Pioneer Press has reported that local businesses, including those in this shopping center, have been forced to adapt as more consumers opt for online shopping. This change in shopping habits is reshaping retail operations and the viability of physical stores.
The large home furnishings store, At Home, opened in 2021 along St. Paul's light rail corridor after a $2 million renovation of the former Walmart building.
The Midway Marketplace strip mall, which also hosts Cub Foods and L.A. Fitness, was acquired by Kraus-Anderson Realty shortly before Walmart's exit.
Meanwhile, after being open for ten years, T.J. Maxx closed its store in the plaza in October 2023.
Despite its location near the Green Line light rail, which celebrated its tenth anniversary on June 14, 2014, the Midway business corridor in St. Paul has continually faced difficulties.
The ease of access to the light rail has not been enough to counter the challenges posed by changing shopping behaviors and the increasing preference for online shopping, leading to struggles in retaining retail tenants.
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