Circle Furniture Closes Mass., NH Locations, Lays Off All Staff Dec. 23

Circle Furniture abruptly closed its seven stores in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire during the week of Dec. 22. A notice stated that all locations would be closed "'till further notice."

The Boston Globe obtained an email saying all employees were laid off: "With a heavy heart, circumstance [sic] have gone against the business and we can no longer afford to continue operations, therefore all employees are being let go...effective Dec. 23."

NewsCenter 5 WCVB Boston reported that a sign posted on the door of the Pembroke location stated, "Our design center is currently closed due to renovations." A sign on the Acton store's door said, "All Circle Furniture locations are closed 'till further notice."

Earlier this year, the company opened a Hyannis location and advertised a floor-model sale earlier this month. There was no clear public notice of the shutdown beforehand.

According to the company's website, Circle Furniture is a family-owned business with seven decades of history. Circle Furniture traces its roots to a shop in Putnam Square.

"It's awful. It's awful. I feel terrible for the folks who still work there to have such short notice before Christmas," said Richard Tubman, the former owner, in a statement shared with NewsCenter 5. "The loss feels very personal, and I don't know what else to say. It's a shock. It's a shock."