HOBO stores in trouble, may close

104 people would lose jobs if business not sold

Building materials and home improvement retailer HOBO may close its stores in Milwaukee and West Allis by the end of the year, the company told state officials in a notice filed Friday.

Formally called Home Owners Bargain Outlet, the firm said it is trying to sell its business, but at the same time is preparing to shut down and liquidate.

Closing the business would throw 104 people in the Milwaukee area out of work, according to the notice. Those employees now work at HOBO stores at 3545 S. 27th St. and 800 S. 108th St., West Allis.

HOBO also has four stores in Illinois, and those too will be shut down, television station CBS Chicago reported late Friday afternoon.

The firm is based in Waukegan, Illinois. Efforts to reach company representatives Friday were unsuccessful.

In its notice, HOBO said it “is pursuing a sale of its business operations and facilities, but due to current economic circumstances, is concurrently preparing to conduct an orderly liquidation and wind down of its operations.”

The notice said HOBO expects to begin laying people off Dec 20.

Employees were told Thursday of the company’s plans, a manager at the South 27th Street store said.

Paul Gores of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.