Kirkland’s Home to Close Naples and Fort Myers Locations Amid Nationwide Downsizing

Kirkland’s Home stores in Naples and Fort Myers will close as part of a broad downsizing strategy by new owner Bed Bath & Beyond. The Park Shore Plaza location in Naples will shut down after a sale ending in late January. In Fort Myers, the Gulf Coast Town Center store is set to close by the end of December.

Both stores are having going-out-of-business sales. Bright yellow signs, both inside and outside, highlight clearance reductions and inform customers that "All Sales Final." Discounts offer up to a 30% markdown on furniture, wall art, lamps, mirrors, holiday items, and more.

The Naples store plans to officially end business on January 26, and the Fort Myers location has a tentative end date of December. Janet Fisher, manager of the Gulf Coast Town Center, shared her surprise about the closures. "We were surprised we were even closing to begin with, to be honest, because we do fairly well," said Fisher to Gulfshore Business. She also noted ongoing deliveries of products through early December.

Bed Bath & Beyond bought Kirkland’s Home and its brand assets for $10 million in September. The company intends to close 25 Kirkland’s stores around the country, including those in Naples and Fort Myers. While most locations will be transformed into Bed Bath & Beyond Home stores, the 25 targeted closures will not undergo this change.

Additionally, the Naples Kirkland’s store has a history of opening and closing, marking this as the fourth and final shutdown. However, its closure aligns with Bed Bath & Beyond's plan to leave lagging markets and adjust its retail approach.

The first Bed Bath & Beyond Home store opened in Nashville in August, with more openings planned across the country. Marcus Lemonis, executive chairman at Bed Bath & Beyond, emphasized the excitement the brand has generated. "The excitement around the Bed Bath & Beyond brand has been undeniable with the first of many store conversions," stated Lemonis. The rebranding strategy aims to streamline its home goods and provide consistent customer experiences across brands.

The transition is part of a wider effort by The Brand House Collective, formerly Kirkland’s, focusing on boosting store conversions and optimizing real estate. The goal is to enhance operational efficiency and expand national reach. The collective ran about 300 outlets mainly in the Southern U.S., dealing with financial fluctuations influenced by the home industry's health.

Fisher hopes Southwest Florida sees a new Bed Bath & Beyond Home store soon. If leasing issues led to these closures, she is hopeful for a future return. "I’m hoping...that maybe they’re find us a new spot or a different spot. I personally am like, OK, let’s hope for the best,” Fisher added.