73-year-old furniture chain shuts stores for good, customers upset

Not many industries managed to thrive during the Covid pandemic. Still, in addition to drug and supplement manufacturers and mask makers, several other sectors actually benefited from the lockdowns and severe restrictions. 

Businesses that thrived belonged to industries that improved people’s restricted and stressful living conditions. Some of them boomed quite unexpectedly. 

For example, the recreational vehicle (RV) market saw a significant boost during the pandemic, with Bloomberg even calling them “Covid campers” due to their sudden rise in popularity. Another industry that saw an uptick in sales at the time of the lockdowns was the furniture industry. 

It makes perfect sense that people wanted to enrich their living area when they were forced to spend all their time there. Furniture sales boomed early during the pandemic, as people also wanted to adapt their homes into offices. Popular large-scale furniture maker Noble House saw a 48% increase in sales in 2020 and 11% in 2021, reports Retail Dive. 

Post pandemic, things weren’t so good for the industry. In fact, Noble House filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Sep. 2023. 

Serious challenges for the furniture business arose in 2022. In fact, “there was a dramatic reversal of fortune for many within Furniture Today’s Top 100 as retailers that experienced double-digit growth in 2021 now reported red numbers for 2022 in the furniture, bedding, and accessories sales column,” according to Furniture Today. 

What’s more, the industry is dealing with even more difficulties in 2025, as President Doland Trump has imposed tariffs of between 10% and 50% on imports of foreign furniture and wood in October 2025, reported Financial Times. 

Over the last two to three years, many furniture chains weren’t able to navigate these economic conditions and were forced to close their doors for good. The latest to join the group is 73-year-old Circle Furniture. 

Furniture retailer Circle Furniture permanently closes all locations 

Circle Furniture has closed all of its stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after more than 70 years of operations, reported The Boston Globe. 

The company management sent an email on Friday, Dec. 19, informing employees that all stores were closed until further notice. Then, on the morning of Dec. 23, employees received a harsh notification that they were being laid off. 

“With a heavy heart, circumstance [sic] have gone against the business and we can no longer afford to continue operations, therefore all employees are being let go including your position effective Dec. 23,” read the email shared with the Globe. 

The Acton-headquartered company has eight stores and a warehouse outlet. 

The email further read that employees will retain their health benefits until the end of the month. 

There’s a banner on Circle Furniture’s official website that clearly states “All Circle Furniture Locations are CLOSED Till Further Notice,” but there’s nothing regarding e-commerce operations. The company’s phone goes straight to voicemail. 

The story of Circle Furniture: built to last 

Circle Furniture was founded as a family business in 1952 by Robert Tubman. It started by opening a small shop in Putnam Circle (now Putnam Square) and expanding to seven other locations across New England. 

By the mid 2000s, Circle Furniture had several stores in Massachusetts and opened additional showrooms in strategic locations. For example, in 2004 it opened its fifth store in Danvers, Massachusetts, and in 2012, the company celebrated the opening of its first downtown Boston store, according to Furniture Today. 

Circle Furniture was born with the idea of offering something different in a sea of disposable and cheaply made furniture: something that is built to last. It started by selling high-quality used furniture and unfinished pieces, and then expanded its portfolio to include beautiful, functional, and eco-friendly furniture, writes Northshore Magazine. 

The business was celebrated for its commitment to sustainability and transparency. Then-Co-owner Peggy Burns told the outlet in 2015 that her family prioritized local vendors, environmentally responsible materials, and lean manufacturing practices, partnering with companies like Lee Industries and Copeland Furniture to minimize waste and reduce chemical exposure.

“Our goal is to help you create the room you want,” Burns said. “But we also focus on using the right resources. It’s our responsibility to pass the planet on, and we all want there to be something left for our grandchildren.”

The description on the company’s About Us page says the following: 

“We are dedicated to providing a wide selection of unique, quality furniture with a team of talented designers to help you every step of the way. Besides sourcing expertly crafted and beautiful furniture, we take strides to be an important part of the local community —both by working with local factories and supporting local charities.”

Furniture chains that closed or filed for bankruptcy 

Some other furniture chains and home furnishing retailers that have closed over the last few years include the following.

• Outten Brothers Home Furnishings: Liquidation/closure announced in 2025 after 78 years in operation, reported TheStreet.
• Badcock Home Furniture & More: Closed all of its 380 stores, according to Tallahassee Democrat. 
• Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams: Fully closed showrooms in 2023, reported CNN. 
• The RoomPlace: Liquidated all 26 locations in early 2025, according to TheStreet.
• American Freight Appliances & Furniture: Parent company filed Chapter 11 in 2024, shutting down all stores, reported TheStreet.
• New Deal Furniture: Conducting going out of business sale, writes TheStreet. 
• American Signature: Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Nov. 2025, according to the official press release. 
• At Home: Filed for bankruptcy in June 2025, according to CBS News. 
• Z Gallerie: Filed for bankruptcy in 2023, reported Chain Store Age. 

Why is Circle Furniture closing? Brutal times 

Piper Sandler Research Analyst Peter Keith addressed attendees at Furniture Today’s 2024 Leadership Conference. 

”Business in the furniture industry over the past two years has been absolutely brutal. While it has moderated, it’s still down single digits. You’ve had a brutal backdrop for the year, really the past two years have been tough.”

Circle Furniture has around 65 employees across administrative, accounting and retail roles. Jonathan Boyle, who has been with the company for almost four decades, was not expecting this. 

“They were having some financial difficulties they were trying to resolve and work around, but that’s all I know,” he said. “It’s not a great situation.”

Other employees told The Boston Globe that the company made an ambitious move when its ownership changed three years ago. New owners Robert and Paula Richard opened stores in the Seaport, Portsmouth, N.H., and in Hyannis. Workers believe the Hyannis store has driven the company to the brink, with extended debt and delivery disruptions. 

“The new owners came with the best of intentions,” said Tim Copeland, a manager at Circle Furniture's manufacturing facility in Vermont. “With each store they opened, we saw an uptick in business.”

Copeland noted that all of the furniture ordered before the closure will be delivered.

Circle Furniture has not filed for bankruptcy, per the report. 

Employees are looking for new jobs a few days before Christmas 

A number of workers told The Globe that they have already started to look for new jobs. 

Burns was upset to hear the news, as she had maintained close relationships with the workers. 

“It’s our legacy, and we’re so ashamed of it,” she said. “This was devastating. I’ve reached out to people I know and we’re trying to help in any way we can…” 

Burns, her husband Richard Tubman, and his brother Harold Tubman sold the business to the Richards because their children didn’t want to continue the family business. 

Longtime customers are shocked and disappointed

The news about Circle Furniture's closure after more than 70 years quickly reached social networks, shocking and disappointing longtime customers. 

“Whoa. And here I was contemplating another purchase from them because I've enjoyed my previous purchases so much…,” wrote user Majestic_Economy_881 on Reddit. 

User TooMuchCaffeine37 seconded that thought, saying “Bummer. They have great high quality stuff. Pricy, but solid.” 

Other users were also frustrated to hear the news about the closure, but expressed hope that the business could restructure. 

“Ugh, this is terrible. Their furniture is great, sized great for small spaces, and very frequently made in US too. Hope they restructure or change ownership,” wrote user ShaniJean. 

Some customers expressed their disappointment on Instagram where the news about Circle Furniture closure was also shared. 

User michaeljclarke.photography was sad and curious to know if there will be a liquidation sale soon, while others followed up with heartbroken emojis. 

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