Conn’s (the owner of Badcock) is in the process of winding down and closing all of its nearly 600 Conn’s and Badcock locations, with liquidation sales expected to be complete by October 31, 2024.
Pictured, the first Badcock store in Mulberry, Florida, 1904.
All Badcock Furniture stores in the eight states where the company operates will be closing, according to various media reports.
Banners atop the Badcock website are advertising going-out-of-business sales of 30% to 50% off at the Mulberry-based furniture retailer for both online and in-store purchases. The company also posted to its Facebook page that all of its stores are closing.
Since 2021, Badcock has been purchased by two other entities, including Conn’s HomePlus, a 134-year-old Texas-based Furniture Company that bought Badcock in December.
Before that Badcock sold its company to Franchise Group Inc., a privately-held holding company that acquires and manages mainly franchise companies, including American Freight, Buddy’s Home Furnishings, The Vitamin Shoppe, Pet Supplies Plus, and Sylvan Learning.
Badcock has at least four locations in the Lakeland area and many others across Polk County and Florida. The company website listed two locations in Winter Haven and other stores in Davenport and Haines City.
Conn’s HomePlus closings
On Tuesday, Conn’s HomePlus announced plans to close at least 73 locations across 13 states. Florida will lose the most, with Conn’s HomePlus shuttering 18 of the state’s 21 locations.
Within the past year, Conn’s opened a large warehouse-sized store visible from Interstate 4 in Lakeland.
The Texas-based chain Conn’s operates more than 170 stores in 15 states across the southern United States and employs over 4,000 people, the company’s website says.
In December 2023, the company acquired W.S. Badcock, which operates in the southeastern U.S. under the name “Badcock Home Furniture & More,” giving the company 550 stores across 15 states between the two brands.
Roots in Polk County
Franchise Group purchased Mulberry-based Badcock on Nov. 22 in a cash transaction valued at approximately $580 million, The Ledger previously reported.
According to a history of Badcock Furniture on its website, Henry Stanhope Badcock founded the W.S. Badcock Corporation in 1904. An immigrant from England, Henry founded the first Badcock store in Mulberry.
He operated a single store in Mulberry for 16 years until 1920, when his son Wogan bought the store around the time the 1929 land boom in Florida helped grow the business.