Christmas Tree Shops

In 1970, Charles Bilezikian and his wife Doreen opened the first Christmas Tree Shops in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. The original location comprised three separate buildings: the Front Shop, the Back Shop and the Barn Shop (which mostly sold penny candy), hence the pluralization of the store's name. The first complex, which the Bilezikians lived above, was on Route 6A, and it was open seasonally in the spring through early fall.{{cite web |date=2015-10-30 |title=6 Things You Didn't Know About Christmas Tree Shops |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a35280/christmas-tree-shops/#:~:text=There%27s%20a%20reason%20for%20that%20extra%20%22s.%22.%20Its,the%20Barn%20Shop%20%28which%20primarily%20sold%20penny%20candy%29 |accessdate=2021-06-16 |publisher=Goodhousekeeping.com}} Beginning in the 1980s, the chain began expanding beyond Cape Cod, growing to reach eight stores by 1984.{{Cite news |date=1984-10-05 |title=Job with a View |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-cts-1984/124222121/ |via=Newspapers.com}} That year, the company purchased the Cape Cod Coliseum and converted it to a warehouse. The chain then entered Connecticut with a store in Manchester in September 1993.{{Cite news |last=Saunders |first=Anne |date=1993-06-09 |title=Plans for store win approval |pages=D3 |work=The Hartford Courant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-cts-61993/124221174/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In the mid-1990s, Christmas Tree Shops introduced a series of commercials in which the chain's customers were recorded showcasing items they purchased, paired with the soon-to-be famous jingle, "Don't you just love a bargain?". This campaign lasted well into the 2000s.{{Cite web |last=Goward |first=Jon |date=2020-02-18 |title=How all those Christmas Tree Shops ads happened |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyQCKpkqApE&feature=youtu.be |via=YouTube}}

The chain was acquired by Bed Bath & Beyond in 2003, though the Bilezikians remained involved in its executive operations. https://bedbathandbeyond.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/bed-bath-beyond-inc-announces-all-cash-acquisition-christmas Under Bed Bath & Beyond, the chain began to expand beyond New England, arriving in Bed Bath & Beyond's native New Jersey, followed by Delaware and Pennsylvania. The chain entered the Midwest, with stores in Michigan and Ohio. The original stores on Route 6A were closed in January 2007, though the site is now occupied by stores owned by the Bilezikians' son Greg.{{cite web |last1=Vaccaro |first1=Adam |title=Where Christmas Tree Shops got the Holiday-themed name |url=http://www.boston.com/business/news/2014/12/24/where-christmas-tree-shops-got-the-holiday-themed-name/UBTyrFHSGenQ902B0n3clK/story.html |accessdate=5 January 2015 |website=boston.com}} Some of the earlier Cape Cod stores, as in West Dennis, were dwarfed by newer built stores.

In 2013, Christmas Tree Shops introduced a new brand and store format called Christmas Tree Shops andThat!, with the name change intended to avoid confusion in new markets unfamiliar with the store.[http://news.fredericksburg.com/businessbrowser/2012/10/24/local-store-will-be-called-and-that-not-christmas-tree-shops/ Local store will be called ‘and That’, not Christmas Tree Shops] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131130194425/http://news.fredericksburg.com/businessbrowser/2012/10/24/local-store-will-be-called-and-that-not-christmas-tree-shops/|date=2013-11-30}} Fredericksburg.com, October 24, 2013{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Jeremy |date=2013-10-12 |title=Bed, Bath & Beyond company opens 'andThat!' retail store in Flint Township |url=https://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/2013/10/bed_bath_beyond_company_opens.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=MLive |language=en}} By 2016, the name was shortened to simply "andThat!" for all new stores opened under Bed Bath & Beyond.

In November 2020, Bed Bath & Beyond sold Christmas Tree Shops and its Middleborough, Massachusetts distribution center to Handil Holdings, a private company, for an undisclosed amount.[https://www.hometextilestoday.com/financial/bed-bath-beyond-sells-christmas-tree-shops-and-hospitality-operation Bed Bath & Beyond sells Christmas Tree Shops and hospitality operation]/{{cite news |last1=Sozzi |first1=Brian |date=14 October 2020 |title=Bed Bath & Beyond CEO: We are starting to get some runs on the board |publisher=Yahoo! Finance |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bed-bath-beyond-ceo-we-are-starting-to-get-some-runs-on-the-board-193020171.html |accessdate=15 October 2020}} A year later, in November 2021, the company opened nineteen pop-up holiday-themed stores across the United States; these remained open through January 3, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Shoulberg |first=Warren |title=New Owners Find Christmas Tree Shops Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/warrenshoulberg/2022/02/03/new-owners-find-christmas-tree-shops-is-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

File:Christmas Tree Shop Closing.jpg]]

On May 4, 2023, following the collapse of its former parent company, Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops announced that it was preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection;{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2023 |title=Christmas Tree Shops may soon file for bankruptcy protection |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/christmas-tree-shops-may-soon-be-seeking-chapter-11-protection |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Fox Business |language=en}} the chain and its parent company, Handil Holdings, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the next day, May 5.{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Discount Retailer Christmas Tree Shops Files for Bankruptcy |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-05/discount-retailer-christmas-tree-shops-files-for-bankruptcy#xj4y7vzkg |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Bloomberg |language=en}} Ten underperforming stores were closed following the filing, in hopes of allowing the company to restructure operations and emerge from bankruptcy by August.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=Christmas Tree Shops files for bankruptcy, report says |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/christmas-tree-shops-to-file-for-bankruptcy-wsj-report/43796679 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=WCVB |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jones-Gorman |first=Jessica |date=2023-05-10 |title=Christmas Tree Shops shuttering 10 stores. See the full list of locations. |url=https://www.silive.com/business/2023/05/christmas-tree-shops-shuttering-10-stores-see-the-full-list-of-locations.html |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Staten Island Advance |language=en}} However, after the company defaulted on a loan used for its restructuring, it was eventually announced that unless a buyer could be found for the chain by July 5, the chain would liquidate and close all remaining stores.{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Christmas Tree Shops to liquidate all stores |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/christmas-tree-shops-to-liquidate-all-stores-ea53da39 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=Wall Street Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Christmas Tree Shops in Holyoke likely to begin liquidation |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/christmas-tree-shops-in-holyoke-likely-to-begin-liquidation/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=WWLP |language=en-US}} With no buyer found, liquidation sales began at all stores nationwide on July 7, with gift cards and coupons being honored through July 21.{{Cite press release |last= |first= |title=Christmas Tree Shops Stores are GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christmas-tree-shops-stores-are-going-out-of-business-301871495.html |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=PRNewswire |language=en}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.wcvb.com/article/christmas-tree-shops-gift-card-program-termination/44473380|title=Christmas Tree Shops to no longer accept gift cards|date=July 7, 2023|access-date=July 7, 2023|website=WCVB|language=en}} During liquidation, multiple websites and Facebook accounts impersonated the chain (which did not sell online), prompting the company to publicly disavow any online retailer using its name.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-27 |title=Several Christmas Tree Shops stores closing this weekend; Shoppers warned of online impersonators |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/christmas-tree-shops-stores-closing-online-scam-warning-sales/ |access-date= |website=CBS News Boston |language=en-US}} The chain was also widely accused of falsely inflating regular prices before clearance discounts were applied.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=Are Christmas Tree Shops closing sales prices really bargains? - CBS Boston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/christmas-tree-shops-closing-sales-prices-deals/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-12 |title='Shame on you': Shoppers accuse Christmas Tree Shops of deceitful pricing during closeout 'sale' |url=https://www.abc27.com/news/consumer/shame-on-you-shoppers-accuse-pennsylvania-christmas-tree-shops-of-deceitful-pricing-during-closeout-sale/ |access-date= |website=WHTM |language=en-US}} The last stores closed permanently on August 12, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Jeff |date=2023-07-30 |title=Christmas Tree Shops closes permanently Sunday after big sale |url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/christmas-tree-shops-closes-permanently-sunday-after-big-sale/article_df5f7c46-2ee4-11ee-99cd-bb1f2f92af6b.html |access-date= |website=WFMZ-TV |language=en}} Four days later, the chain's bankruptcy case was formally converted to Chapter 7, as proceeds from liquidation sales fell short of targets.{{Cite news |last=Knauth |first=Dietrich |date=2023-08-16 |title=Christmas Tree Shops bankruptcy converted to Chapter 7 |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/christmas-tree-shops-bankruptcy-converted-chapter-7-2023-08-16/ |access-date=}} Many employees accused the company of failing to pay bonuses promised for work during liquidation sales; the judge presiding over the Chapter 7 case later ordered Hilco, the liquidator, to issue the promised paychecks.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title='Slap in the face,' Former Christmas Tree Shops workers wait for final paychecks, bonuses - CBS Boston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/christmas-tree-shops-workers-not-paid-final-paychecks-bonuses/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Workers at bankrupt retail chain were promised a bonus to show up during its liquidation sale. But now they won't be paid |url=https://fortune.com/2023/08/16/christmas-tree-shops-bankruptcy-workers-promised-bonus/ |access-date= |website=Fortune |language=en}} As a result of the liquidation, a planned new store in Bohemia, New York, which was slated for a summer 2023 opening, never opened.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=Christmas Tree Shops Location To Come To Bohemia |url=https://patch.com/new-york/sayville/christmas-tree-shops-location-come-bohemia |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Sayville-Bayport, NY Patch |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Taco Bell, Harbor Freight Tools among new tenants planned for revamped Bohemia shopping center |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/sayville-plaza-bohemia-taco-bell-christmas-tree-shops-harbor-freight-tools-boot-barn-chick-fil-a-joann-gtuht4tw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818215149/https://www.newsday.com/business/sayville-plaza-bohemia-taco-bell-christmas-tree-shops-harbor-freight-tools-boot-barn-chick-fil-a-joann-gtuht4tw |archive-date=2023-08-18 |access-date= |website=Newsday |language=en}}

File:Sagamore_Christmas_Tree_Shop.jpg in Sagamore, Massachusetts]]

Christmas Tree Shops were bargain stores. They sold food, toys, household furnishings, Christmas decorations, and other seasonal holiday decorations. Most stores were typically reminiscent of older buildings (Colonial, Victorian, or even Old English barn styles, like in Sagamore, Pembroke, Massachusetts; and Warwick, Rhode Island). Some stores, like the Lynnfield, Massachusetts store, were even more conceptualized; said store was famous for its lighthouse and fishing village motif.

• [https://archive.org/details/Blanche%20Visiting%20Christmas%20Tree%20Shops%20on%20Seriously%20Somerville Somerville City TV (public access), Christmas Tree Shops in Assembly Square, Somerville, MA. (2014)]

Category:Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Category:Companies based in Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Category:Economy of the Eastern United States

Category:American companies established in 1970

Category:Retail companies established in 1970

Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2023

Category:American companies disestablished in 2023

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023

Category:Companies that have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Category:Retail companies of the United States

Category:1970 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:2023 disestablishments in Massachusetts

Category:2003 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Defunct retail companies of the United States