If you’ve driven past a Huffman Koos location recently, you may have noticed liquidation signs, bare showroom floors, or locked doors. That’s enough to make any shopper wonder: is this chain finished for good?
The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. This article breaks down what actually happened, what the ownership has said publicly, and what it means for anyone thinking about buying from them — or waiting on an existing order.
What Huffman Koos Is and Who It Serves
Huffman Koos is a regional furniture retailer with locations across New Jersey and New York. Its product lineup includes sofas, recliners, mattresses, beds, chairs, mirrors, and various home accents.
According to Consumer Affairs, the company has been in business for over 55 years, which gives it more staying power than most regional furniture chains. Business data from ZoomInfo estimates annual revenue around $13.6 million and a staff of approximately 133 employees.
For decades, Huffman Koos positioned itself as a reliable local alternative to national chains. That reputation, however, has become complicated in recent years — and recent events have added another layer of uncertainty.
What Actually Happened — Store Closures and Liquidation Sales
The situation started when owner Anthony Mehran announced the closure of all eight Huffman Koos locations across New York and New Jersey. Liquidation sales kicked off at stores including Freehold, Fairfield, Watchung, Rockaway, and Middletown. Closing sales at the Paramus, Farmingdale, and Elmhurst locations followed shortly after.
When every location in a chain runs a liquidation sale at once, it naturally looks like a shutdown. Customers walking into a store with reduced inventory, deep discounts, and “going out of business” signage are going to draw their own conclusions.
That perception has been reinforced by shopper experiences. A Yelp reviewer for the Freehold location noted that the store appeared to have been “going out of business for at least a year,” citing limited selection and elevated prices throughout that period. Extended closing sales like this create a slow-burn confusion — it’s hard to tell whether a business is winding down or just clearing old stock.
The Official Explanation — Renovation and Rebranding, Not Permanent Closure
Here’s where the story gets more nuanced. According to reporting by Furniture Today, owner Anthony Mehran stated that the closures are part of a major renovation and rebranding initiative — not a permanent shutdown.
Mehran indicated plans to reopen locations after renovations are complete. The first reopened store was expected sometime in May, based on the reporting available at the time. He also noted he was considering leasing out portions of some locations, a practice the company has used before. That could mean not every closed location reopens under the Huffman Koos name.
It’s worth understanding that closing all stores at once for renovation is uncommon, but not without precedent in retail. Some chains use large-scale closures to reset their brand, update their store formats, or renegotiate leases — all without any intention of going away permanently.
That said, the stated plan and the actual outcome are two different things. Mehran’s intent to reopen is on record, but whether all or any locations follow through remains uncertain. Customers should treat the reopening timeline as a goal, not a guarantee.
What the Company’s Reputation Record Suggests
Before making any purchase decision, it helps to look at Huffman Koos’s track record with customers. The picture there is not especially reassuring.
The Better Business Bureau has given Huffman Koos an F rating. The company is not BBB accredited, and the F reflects a documented pattern of failing to respond to or adequately resolve customer complaints. The principal contact on the BBB profile is listed as President Anthony Mehran, with a Fairfield, New Jersey address.
An F rating doesn’t tell you a company is about to close. What it does signal is that customers who ran into problems — with deliveries, product quality, or post-sale support — often struggled to get those issues resolved. Consumer Affairs reviews echo this, with multiple customers describing frustrating experiences around delivery timelines and responsiveness.
During a stable period, those complaints represent a service quality issue. During a transitional period — when operations are already disrupted by simultaneous store closures — those same weaknesses become a more serious risk. If something goes wrong with your order and you can’t reach anyone, that’s a meaningful problem.
The Real Risk for Customers Right Now
Whether Huffman Koos reopens or not, there are specific risks worth understanding before spending money with them.
Existing Orders and Deliveries
If you’ve already placed an order, the closure of physical locations doesn’t automatically cancel your delivery. But it can complicate it. Warehouse operations may be affected during a transition, and if your point of contact — the store you bought from — is closed, follow-up becomes harder.
Warranties and Returns
Furniture warranties are only as useful as the company honoring them. If a store closes permanently or the company downsizes significantly, getting warranty service or a return processed becomes much more difficult. This risk is elevated during any period of operational uncertainty.
Gift Cards and Store Credits
Any outstanding gift cards or store credits carry real risk during a transition. If the company’s operational structure changes substantially, there’s no guarantee those will be honored at every location — or at all.
Should You Buy From Huffman Koos Right Now?
This depends on what you’re buying and how much risk you’re comfortable accepting.
On the positive side, liquidation sales can offer genuine discounts on quality furniture. If you find a piece at a significantly reduced price and can take it home the same day, your exposure is limited.
Where it gets riskier is with custom orders, delayed delivery promises, long-term service plans, or high-ticket purchases that depend on the company still being operational weeks or months from now. Given the combination of simultaneous closures, an F BBB rating, and uncertain reopening timelines, those types of purchases carry real downside risk.
If you do decide to buy, take these precautions:
- Pay with a credit card so you have a dispute option if something goes wrong.
- Get all delivery timelines and promises in writing before you leave the store.
- Skip extended service plans or warranties that require a functioning store to redeem.
- Document your purchase thoroughly — receipts, order confirmations, and contact information.
How to Check the Current Status of a Specific Location
Store conditions are evolving. A location that was running a closing sale last month might be closed entirely today — or it might have quietly reopened. Don’t assume based on what you heard secondhand.
Here’s how to verify before making the trip:
- Call the store directly using the number from the BBB listing, ZoomInfo, or Yelp.
- Check recent Yelp or Consumer Affairs reviews — look for posts from the last few weeks, not months.
- Look for physical signage on arrival, including “Reopening Soon,” “Remodeling,” or “Final Days” notices.
- Search the store name alongside the current month and year to surface any recent news coverage or social media posts.
These steps take less than ten minutes and can save you a wasted trip — or a frustrating purchase experience.
The Bigger Picture — Huffman Koos in Context
Huffman Koos is navigating something that regional furniture chains across the country have been dealing with for years. Competition from large national retailers and online furniture platforms has put sustained pressure on mid-size chains with physical locations.
Renovation and rebranding efforts are one way regional retailers try to stay relevant. Whether those efforts succeed depends on execution, financing, and market conditions — none of which are visible from the outside.
For more coverage of regional business developments and retail trends, Every Business Mag provides ongoing reporting on companies navigating transitions like this one.
Final Takeaway
Huffman Koos has closed all eight of its New York and New Jersey locations. Liquidation sales have been running at multiple stores, and customer perception — fueled by extended closing sales and reduced inventory — strongly suggests a business in decline.
The official position from owner Anthony Mehran is that the closures are temporary, tied to a renovation and rebranding initiative, with plans to reopen at least some locations. That may prove accurate. It may not. The outcome isn’t certain, and customers should weigh that uncertainty before making any significant purchase commitment.
What’s clear is this: proceed carefully, protect your money, verify store status before visiting, and avoid purchases that depend on long-term company stability. Whether Huffman Koos emerges from this transition or not, making an informed decision now is far better than finding out after the fact.
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