Joey’z Shopping Spree has always seemed like a throwback to another era, and now, it may be gone for good.
The store has traditionally operated in lower-tier strip malls, like its former location in Manchester, Conn. I drove by the store on countless occasions as my gym was nearby, but it wasn’t an inviting retailer, and I was never clear on what the chain sold.
That’s not a glowing endorsement for a retailer that persevered in New York and New England for more than 30 years, but the reality is that I thought it was a low-end clothing store.
The company described its mission on its website.
“Joey’z Shopping offers premium housewares at an affordable price. Our online store gives customers the convenience of shopping from home without giving up the quality or customer service they’ve come to expect from our brick-and-mortar locations,” it shared.
It was also known to sell clothing, shoes, and sometimes bulk candy.
Now, with the store I used to drive by already closed, the chain is shutting down four others, and the fate of its Mount Vernon, N.Y., location remains uncertain, according to a report from Connecticut Scoop.
Joey’z had a clear mission in recent years
While its name did little to explain what it sold, the Joey’z website actually lays out a pretty clear mission for the brand that makes a lot of sense.
“We want to give customers a one-stop shop for housewares that they’ll love to use for years. That’s why we make sure that all of our products are well-made and just as reliable as those from higher-end brands, at a price point that any homeowner can afford. Now that cheap, disposable products are flooding the marketplace, we think that filling this niche is more important than ever,” it posted.
Now, with Manchester already closed, four more locations have begun going-out-of-business sales.
The stores that are currently closing are:
- West Hartford, 50 Kane Street at Prospect Plaza
- Waterbury, 224 Chase Avenue at Waterbury Plaza
- West Springfield, 1150 Union Street
- Springfield, 1297 Liberty Street at Springfield Plaza
Connecticut Scoop was not able to confirm whether the Mount Vernon, N.Y., location, which operates under the name Joey’Z Home and Beyond, will close. In addition, the Joey’z Shopping Spree brand has not mentioned the closures on its website.
More Store Closures:
- Haynes Furniture to shut flagship store as 128-year-old legacy comes to end
- Gucci owner closes over 128 stores with more to come
- Struggling home goods chain closing more stores
The stores are expected to stay open for a closeout sale.
“For shoppers hoping to grab deals before the lights go out, the store-closing sales at West Hartford, Waterbury, West Springfield, and Springfield are already running, though how long each sale will last remains unclear,” Hoodline reported.
A request for comment made through an email form on the Joey’z Shopping Spree website was not immediately returned.
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Joey’z seemed to have a dedicated fanbase
The Google Review pages for each location show the chain has never been rated below 4.2 out of 5 cumulatively.
Examples of comments include:
“Been going to Joey’z since 2002 never had an issue with the staff. Love buying my curtains and bathroom items there,” Jennifer Hernandez wrote.
Tracey Mitchell, labeled by Google as “Local Guide,” shared a similar positive experience.
“Awesome store, just like American Discount Store used to be in New Haven and Bridgeport back in the day. Go and shop here and bring extra cash!! They have bargains,” she posted.
And while there were some complaints about returns and pricing labels not matching the price, the vast majority of the over 325 ratings were positive.
“Great value store for home decor items and such. You can pretty much find anything here & they have a VERY large variety of curtains. They also sell Tide VERY cheaply; I’m pretty sure it’s a knockoff, but it works just as well and comes in bulk,” Amber Long wrote.
Joey’z Shopping Spree has not filed for bankruptcy or released a public comment on the closures.
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