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Howard's Appliance Shuts All Southern California Stores During Holiday Season

The shutdown follows an April takeover by S5 Equity that had touted a turnaround.

Overview

  • Operations ceased on Dec. 6 under a notice signed by logistics manager Isaiah Padilla citing “circumstances beyond our control.”
  • Employees were reportedly given two days’ notice before layoffs, according to the Orange County Register.
  • The company’s website is down and store phones are unanswered, leaving customers unsure about paid orders and pending deliveries.
  • A former employee alleged on social media that funding was pulled and the company filed for bankruptcy, a claim not yet confirmed by public filings.
  • CEO Peter Boutros had praised the acquisition in April as positioning Howard’s for growth after decades as a leading independent regional retailer.