North Charleston location of Old Time Pottery to be closed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing

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Mealand Ragland-Hudgins
Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Daily News Journal

Home decor retailer Old Time Pottery has started Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in order to restructure its finances.

Based in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the company said the move was because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Prior to COVID-19, Old Time Pottery was growing profitability at a near-record pace. When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the company experienced a sudden and precipitous decline in sales that lasted for six weeks with mandates to close numerous store locations in accordance with state and local government regulations,” the company said in a news release.

The company incurred “significant short-term debts” in order to keep operations afloat during two of its busiest months for sales, the release said.

As part of the Chapter 11 effort, Old Time Pottery will close the store at 5900 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston, as well as stores in Fayetteville, N.C., Rockford, Ill., and Orlando, Fla.

No reductions in staffing or other closures are expected at other stores, distribution centers or store support centers, the release said. Old Time Pottery operates 43 stores in 11 states, according to its website.

Old Time Pottery officials said the company is expected to emerge from the filing with stronger operations as it did following the recession in 2008.

A number of other businesses have announced plans to file Chapter 11 in recent weeks, including Tuesday Morning, which plans to close 230 stores (none yet in South Carolina), and Chuck E. Cheese, which wants to permanently close 34 locations, including the one in West Ashley, which has been closed for a while.

Reach Mealand Ragland-Hudgins at 615-278-5160 or at [email protected].