Local appliance chain shuts without warning, leaving orders in limbo

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A California appliance chain abruptly shut down its stores over the weekend, reportedly giving little notice to employees and leaving customers with pending orders in the dark.Howard’s Appliances, a 79-year-old retail chain based in the City of Industry, had several locations in eastern Los Angeles and Riverside, as well as in Long Beach, Laguna Hills and Torrance.

Stores were shuttered on Saturday, and the chain’s website was down on Monday, even though some customers complained on social media that they had paid for orders and were still waiting for deliveries.The company gave employees two days’ notice that they would be laid off, the Orange County Register reported.

In the notice, a Howard’s manager Isaiah Padilla wrote that the company was closing its business operations due to “circumstances beyond our control,” the Register wrote.Lifestyle Antique malls, consignment stores, flea markets, thrift stores and vintage shops: L.A.

has it all when it comes to shopping for secondhand furniture.Howard’s was acquired in April by the Newport Beach-based private equity firm S5 Equity, which was tasked with turning around the struggling company.At the time, Howard’s Chief Executive Peter Boutrous said he was optimistic about prospects for a turnaround.

“With this acquisition, Howard’s is now poised for the future,” Boutros said in a press release in April.The company began as a radio repair shop in San Gabriel and had since expanded to offer a range of home appliances, mattresses and TVs.

It was a leading independent appliance retailer in Southern California for decades.According to social media reports and the Orange County Register, several customers have been left in limbo after paying for appliances.“My parent just ordered a new range from Howard’s and then saw this morning they are all closing?” wrote one Orange County resident on Reddit.

“They h...