HOBO Store In Oak Lawn May Close By Year's End

OAK LAWN, IL -- HOBO may close its stores by the end of year, including the Oak Lawn location at the end of the year, including the Oak Lawn location at 87th Street and Cicero Avenue. The firm that owns the financially troubled home improvement chain, announced that it was looking for a buyer, according to multiple reports. Liquidation sales could start as soon as Nov. 1.

The Waukegan-based retailer operates seven HOBO stores in the Midwest, including five Illinois locations in Waukegan, Villa Park, Crest Hill, Forest Park and Oak Lawn, as well as two stores in the Milwaukee area. HOBO carries furniture, kitchen and bath, home décor, appliances and flooring products. HOBO is an acronym for Home Owners Bargain Outlet.

A letter to employees obtained by CBS 2 Chicago said layoffs could take place beginning Dec. 20. The retailer employs approximately 400 employees. The company said in a notice that it is “pursuing a sale of its business operations and facilities, but due to current economic circumstances, is concurrently preparing to conduct an orderly liquidation and wind down of its operations.”

HOBO recently renewed its lease for 24 months at 8716 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn’s Market Place Shopping Center.

Oak Lawn Village Manager Larry Deetjen said the village has been in touch with the Illinois-based shopping center owner.

“We have an excellent working relationship with the shopping center owner,” Deetjen said in an email. “HOBO’s of Oak Lawn is a very successful store in good standing with the village. The larger picture and the future, is of course. a matter for HOBO’s corporate own to assess. We have always expressed our support for this robust business.”