Imagine driving to your local Old Time Pottery maybe the one in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the city where the chain was founded and finding the doors locked. It’s easy to assume the whole company is gone. But that’s not the full picture.
Old Time Pottery has gone through bankruptcy, a new owner, store closures, and ongoing changes. Some stores are still open. Some have permanently closed. And others are turning into something different. Here’s a clear breakdown of what actually happened and what it means for you as a shopper.
Old Time Pottery Filed for Bankruptcy — What That Actually Means
Before the chain was acquired, Old Time Pottery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This is an important distinction because Chapter 11 is not the same as shutting everything down.
Chapter 11 is a reorganization process. The company keeps operating while it works through its debts, closes underperforming stores, and renegotiates leases. Think of it like a household that’s behind on its bills you might sell a car, renegotiate your mortgage, and find a financial partner instead of losing the house entirely. That’s essentially what Old Time Pottery did.
This is different from Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is a full liquidation. Under Chapter 7, everything shuts down and assets are sold off. Chapter 11 gives the company room to restructure and potentially find a buyer, which is exactly what happened here.
The broader context matters too. After COVID, a lot of brick-and-mortar home décor retailers struggled. E-commerce competition grew. Inflation pushed up costs. Supply chains were a mess. Old Time Pottery wasn’t alone in feeling that pressure it just hit harder for some chains than others.
Gabe’s Bought Old Time Pottery in 2023 Here’s What Changed
In April 2023, off-price retailer Gabe’s acquired Old Time Pottery. Gabe’s is headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia, and operates as a discount chain selling apparel, home goods, and general merchandise.
This acquisition meant Old Time Pottery didn’t disappear it became part of Gabe’s portfolio. Gabe’s describes Old Time Pottery as “part of the Gabe’s family” on its website, and still maintains a dedicated page for the brand at gabesstores.com/oldtimepottery.
Why would Gabe’s want to buy Old Time Pottery? A few reasons make sense here. Old Time Pottery had an established footprint in the Southeast and Midwest. It also had a strong identity in home décor a category that held up well post-COVID as people spent more money on their homes. Gabe’s gains geographic reach and a recognizable brand in a space it wanted to grow.
The competition in off-price retail is intense. HomeGoods, At Home, Ollie’s, Burlington, TJ Maxx, and Ross all compete for the same budget-conscious shopper. Buying Old Time Pottery gave Gabe’s a faster path to scale than building new stores from scratch.
Think of it like a regional restaurant chain getting bought by a larger operator. Some locations stay the same. Some get rebranded. Some close if they’re not profitable. That’s roughly what’s playing out with Old Time Pottery right now.
So Is Old Time Pottery Actually Gone?
The short answer: no, not entirely but it is shrinking and changing.
Some stores have permanently closed. The original Murfreesboro, Tennessee location the city where the chain started in 1986 is marked as closed on Yelp as of 2026. For longtime customers, that’s a meaningful loss. It was the flagship market.
But other locations are still operating under the Old Time Pottery name. The official store locator at location.oldtimepottery.com shows active stores in multiple markets. The brand hasn’t vanished it’s just smaller and under new ownership.
On top of closures, some stores are in the process of converting to Gabe’s. Customers who follow Old Time Pottery on Facebook have noted that certain locations are transitioning changing signage, shifting inventory, and gradually taking on the Gabe’s identity. This isn’t a coordinated nationwide announcement. It’s happening store by store.
So what you’re looking at is not a total going-out-of-business situation. It’s consolidation. Some stores close, some rebrand, and a smaller number continue as Old Time Pottery under the Gabe’s umbrella at least for now.
What Customers Will Notice in Stores That Are Still Open
If you visit a store that’s converting to Gabe’s, the experience will feel different from what Old Time Pottery used to be.
Old Time Pottery built its reputation on large warehouse-style stores packed with rugs, furniture, housewares, seasonal décor, and outdoor items all at discount prices. The stores were big and product-focused around the home.
Gabe’s carries a broader mix. That means you may walk in expecting wall-to-wall home décor and find clothing racks, footwear sections, and general merchandise filling space that used to be rugs and garden décor. The off-price value proposition stays the same low prices, constantly changing stock but the category focus shifts.
Pricing should remain in the discount range. Both Gabe’s and Old Time Pottery compete on value, so deep discounts are still the core draw. That part of the experience isn’t likely to disappear.
If you have an Old Time Pottery gift card or are wondering about return policies, check directly with the store or the official website before assuming anything. Policies can change after an acquisition, and it’s better to confirm than to show up with a gift card that’s no longer honored.
How to Check If Your Local Store Is Still Open
Because closures and conversions are happening on a rolling basis, the best approach is to verify before you drive anywhere.
- Use the official store locator: Go to location.oldtimepottery.com to see which locations are currently listed as active.
- Check the Gabe’s website: gabesstores.com/oldtimepottery has brand information and may list store updates.
- Call the store directly: A quick phone call confirms hours, current inventory focus, and whether a conversion is in progress.
- Check Google Maps or Yelp: These are often updated quickly when a store closes or changes. Look at the reviews and Q&A sections too customers frequently post recent visit notes.
Don’t rely on old information. A store that was open six months ago may have closed or changed. Given how quickly this situation has been moving, real-time confirmation is worth the extra step.
What This Says About Discount Retail Right Now
Old Time Pottery’s situation isn’t unique. A lot of mid-size specialty retailers have struggled to survive as standalone companies in recent years. The ones that make it tend to either get acquired by a larger operation or find a very specific niche they can defend.
Off-price retail as a whole is growing. Shoppers are looking for value, especially as inflation has kept everyday costs high. But that growth is being captured mostly by the larger players TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Burlington, Ross. Smaller chains without the scale to compete on logistics and buying power are at a disadvantage.
Gabe’s buying Old Time Pottery is a consolidation play. It’s a way for Gabe’s to get bigger faster and for Old Time Pottery to survive in some form rather than disappear entirely. Whether that’s a good outcome depends on what you valued about the original chain.
For more coverage of retail trends and business news like this, The Business Flick covers what’s actually happening in the business world without the noise.
The Bottom Line
Old Time Pottery is not completely out of business, but it’s not the same company it was either. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, was acquired by Gabe’s in April 2023, and is now operating as part of that larger off-price retail group.
Some stores have closed including the original Murfreesboro location. Others are converting to Gabe’s. A smaller number continue operating as Old Time Pottery for now.
If you’re a regular customer, check the store locator before visiting, and don’t be surprised if the product mix looks different than it used to. The brand is still alive, but it’s in transition and that process isn’t finished yet.
