ballard comes to houston

Prominent national home and design retailer sets up shop in River Oaks

Ballard Designs is coming to River Oaks.

Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

A widely recognized national online and catalog home decor purveyor is opening doors to its first Houston location. Ballard Designs is set to open a new retail store in the Rivers Oaks Shopping Center early next year, the company announced. It will occupy the former GAP Store’s 10,000-square foot location.

The new Houston Ballard stores will be the chain’s 16th retail location since launching its national retail expansion in 2007. Weingarten Realty, owner and operator of River Oaks Shopping Center, has invested heavily in the property over the past two years, including construction of a 30-story residential tower. Ballard will join a number of well-known shopping and furniture stores in the affluent River Oaks shopping district.

Ballard Designs’ new River Oaks location will be introduced to Houston shoppers on targeted soft opening days beginning in early 2021 with distancing protocols in place, according to a press release.

Opening a new Houston store was always in the cards for the chain, according to Dominic Milanese, senior director of retail for Ballard Designs. “We’ve been serving Houston designers and homeowners for 35 years through our catalog, so we already have a large following here,” Milanese said in a statement.

“Shopping is one of the top 10 things to do in Houston,” Milanese added in the statement. "And at Ballard, we have such a robust assortment, we expect people to love our upholstery and larger furniture pieces, but also to stop in for smaller accessories as well.”

Fans of the online chain can look forward to seeing upscale brands in the Houston store such as Frontgate, Garnett Hill, Grandin Road, and Ryllace.

shopping

Closure News

American Freight furniture chain closing all 7 Houston-area stores

American Freight

There's a big sale going on at American Freight.

There's a huge sale on furniture going down right now, but for a sad reason: American Freight, a chain of furniture stores operating in dozens of states, is permanently shuttering all 328 locations, due to “sustained inflation and macroeconomic challenges,” according to its parent company.

That includes seven stores in the Houston area.

The closing comes after its parent company, Franchise Group, Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection, according to documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

Store closing sales began on November 5, both online and at its 328 locations. Hilco Consumer-Retail is managing these sales for American Freight as the business winds down its operations nationwide. Significant discounts are being offered on the brand's full assortment of inventory.

Shoppers can save up to 30 percent off the lowest ticketed prices storewide. Available items include living room sets, bedroom furniture, dining tables, and a selection of scratch & dent and new in-box appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers.

New inventory is arriving and expected to move quickly, so customers should take advantage of this prime opportunity to enjoy exceptional deals before it's too late.

"Our goal is to deliver outstanding value to customers during this full chain closing sale," said Ian Fredericks, CEO of Hilco Consumer-Retail. "Everything is on sale and must be sold, and we recommend shopping early for the best selection."

During the store closing sales, select American Freight financing and delivery services will remain available to customers, presenting a unique opportunity to shop exceptional discounts with the convenience of flexible payment and home delivery.

The chain has 39 stores in Texas, including 7 in the Houston area:

19750 North Fwy, Spring
3267 E Broadway St #16, Pearland
11051 East Freeway, Houston
20750 Gulf Fwy, Webster
5901 Griggs Rd, Houston
11687 Westheimer Rd, Houston
1002 TX-340 Loop, Bellmead

Sale Details
They're offering up to 30 percent off the lowest ticketed prices on furniture, scratch & dent, and new in-box appliances. Discounts are valid in stores and online. All sales are final, of course. Shop now for the best selection while supplies last.

american freight closings