By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
Wayfair will be closing their doors in Florence after only 5 years.
The layoffs have begun to be scheduled and should start by the end of this year.
Over 200 employees will be affected, and these layoffs are not temporary, although some employees may be able to be relocated in some cases.
“After careful consideration we decided not to renew our lease at our Florence, Kentucky returns center and outlet store,” said Jill Piano, a spokesperson from the Boston-based company. “While our Florence site will remain open until the end of 2025, we are working closely with affected employees to assist with job placement at other Wayfair locations and with local employment agencies.”
The combination warehouse/retail space is located on Renegade Way in Florence, and is a sizeable building, measuring about 20,000 square feet.
News of the closing swirled on social media as employees and relatives of employees commiserated on losing a job during the holidays.
The city of Florence is not happy knowing they are losing a company.
“We are saddened by Wayfair’s decision to close its Florence location, resulting in the loss of 218 jobs,” said Florence CAO Joshua Hunt. “The store, which opened five years ago, never fully bounced back to pre-COVID success. Given Wayfair’s broader financial struggles, including declining sales and layoffs, this outcome, though unfortunate, reflects the challenges the company has faced.
“We remain committed to maintaining a strong business environment in Florence and will continue working to attract new opportunities for growth. When a WARN notice is issued, city staff coordinates with regional partners and the affected business to assist with job placement and other resources for impacted employees.”
The WARN notification stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, and it is issued by the employer when a plant closure or mass layoff is planned.