Customers, Employees Confused After Furniture Company Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy proceedings have a pair of El Paso furniture stores all locked up and paying customers locked out, wondering when – or if – they’ll get their merchandise.

According to FurnitureToday.com, Furniture Factory Warehouse, which operates 12 locations across Texas, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company has partnered with Planned Furniture Promotions to begin liquidation.

Furniture Factory Warehouse has two locations in El Paso. The first sits at I-10 and Lee Trevino in east El Paso, the second at Northpark Mall in the northeast.

ABC-7 spoke with confused customers at both locations.

One man was unsure when he’d receive a bedroom set he’d recently purchased. Another customer had questions about a sofa and other furniture he had on layaway.

“They’re waiting for their money,” said one store employee who didn’t want to be identified.

The worker told ABC-7, aside from angry customers, he’s been dealing with a missing paycheck.

The man showed ABC-7 his bank statement. It showed he was paid on May 28th, but the company reversed his deposit four days later.

The employee said he wasn’t aware there was an issue with his check until he tried to get a money order to pay his rent.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said, adding his manager told him he’d be given a replacement check.

A yellow sign mounted outside the east El Paso store said Furniture Factory Warehouse would be closed for an inventory check but would “reopen shortly.”

The sign made no mention of bankruptcy.

A Furniture Factory Warehouse representative told WOAI-TV in San Antonio customers who are owed money or furniture will be taken care of and most likely notified by the bankruptcy court.