Painted Tree Vendors Forced Out After Sudden Closure

Arkansas-based Painted Tree Botiques abruptly closed all of its locations nationwide, leaving local vendors who had booths in the Middle Tennessee stores scrambling to retrieve their inventory over the weekend.

Small business owners in Franklin who operated out of the Painted Tree on Murfreesboro Road learned about the closure on Tuesday, April 14.

According to a press release from Williamson Inc., former store management stated that the 67,000-square-foot location housed more than 200 business owners with an unknown number of employees per booth. There are also 33 Painted Tree employees who will be affected by the closure.

The county's chamber of commerce and office of economic development said in its release that it will host a two-day market for businesses that were located within Painted Tree. On Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5 the Factory at Franklin will host the displaced vendors.

“Supporting [small business] is part of our community’s culture, and it’s how we preserve the quality of life we’re known for,” Matt Largen, president and CEO of Williamson Inc., said in the release. "When they face disruption, it impacts more than storefronts. It impacts families, jobs, and our community. Our role is to bring people together and create the connections and opportunities that keep businesses moving forward."

A statement from Painted Tree has been shared by multiple outlets that cites "rising costs, shifting market conditions and the evolving nature of how people shop" for challenges it could not overcome.

In a communication sent to business owners, Painted Tree said it anticipates filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. As of April 20, no filing has been made.