CONNECTICUT — LL Flooring, a flooring store chain that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings over the weekend, plans to close 94 stores nationwide, including four in Connecticut.

According to a news release, LL Flooring announced Sunday it has commenced voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

The company intends to use these proceedings to “pursue a going-concern sale of its business.”

LL Flooring currently operate over 300 continuing stores across the U.S. that, along with its online platform, “are open and continuing to serve customers with few changes to store operations and policies,” according to the release.

The company recently initiated store closing sales at 94 of its locations, which will remain open and serving customers through the closing process.

In Connecticut, LL Flooring announced store closings planned for locations in Norwalk, Milford, North Haven and Waterbury.

The company also operates store locations in Danbury, Waterford and Hartford, which are currently expected to remain open.

LL Flooring officials plan to sell the company, and noted in the release they are in “active negotiations with multiple bidders” and hope to seek bankruptcy court approval of a sale of its business in the first few weeks of the Chapter 11 proceedings.

“After comprehensive efforts to enhance our liquidity position in a challenging macro environment, a determination was made that initiating this Chapter 11 process is the best path forward for the company,” LL Flooring CEO Charles Tyson said in a news release. “Today’s step is intended to provide LL Flooring with additional time and financial flexibility as we reduce our physical footprint and close certain stores while pursuing a going-concern sale of the rest of our business. As we move through this process, we are committed to continuing to serve our valued customers, and to working seamlessly with our vendors and partners. I am appreciative of our associates for their ongoing hard work in providing the best experience for our customers.”

LL Flooring has filed a number of customary motions in connection with the Chapter 11 proceedings. Once approved by the court, those motions will allow the company to “smoothly transition its business into Chapter 11,” including by “granting authority to continue payment of wages and maintain healthcare and other benefits, as well as certain other relief customary in these circumstances.”

The company has sought authorization to continue honoring customer commitments subject to certain modifications of store operations or policies relating to its acceptance of customer deposits and gift cards.

The company also intends to pay vendors and suppliers in full under normal terms for goods and services provided on or after the Chapter 11 filing date, and has requested court approval to do so.

In addition to Connecticut, LL Flooring plans to close store locations in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

A full list of planned store closures can be found here.

As families get ready to send kids back to school, Connecticut is once again offering a week of sales tax exemptions for a range of goods. 

Beginning Sunday, Aug. 18 and ending Saturday, Aug. 24, most clothing and footwear items under $100 will be exempt from the state’s 6.35% sales and use tax. 

“Sales Tax Free Week is a great way for Connecticut residents to save some cash,” Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton said. 

“In fact, many retailers also choose to offer additional discounts, resulting in even more savings.”

“As always, I encourage shoppers to take the time to stop by some of Connecticut’s local businesses and support our amazing small business community,” said Gov. Ned Lamont.

Qualifications, Exclusions

The sales tax exemption applies to purchases made not only from retailers located in Connecticut, but also online retailers.

It also applies to each eligible item under $100 purchased, regardless of how many a customer purchases. 

Discounted and sale items, coupon sales, and buy one, get one free promotions also qualify. 

There are some items that do not qualify for the sales-tax exemption, including clothing and footwear specifically designed for athletic activity or for protective use. 

Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items are also excluded. 

The state’s website answers frequently asked questions, including examples of what does and doesn’t qualify for the exemption.

This is the 24th year of Connecticut’s Sales Tax Free Week.

Menshealth.com recently did a deep dive to discover the 100 cities across the United States that were the booziest. They contacted the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

They considered the stats on binge drinking, excessive drinking, alcohol-impaired driving deaths, and death rates from alcohol-related illnesses. Only one Connecticut city was on that list. Can you guess which one? It was Bridgeport that ranked 63. The following were the Top 5 Booziest Cities in America. For the complete list, click on menshealth.com.

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