HomeGoods coming to Sandusky

PERKINS TWP. — Several months after one big-box store left a prominent storefront, another chain intends on setting up shop in this very location. "HomeGoods will, indeed, be arriving in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space," Sandusky Mall spokesman Joe Bell said on Monday. Ahead of a planned opening in early 2024, HomeGoods should take most of 2023 to transform this space between Old Navy and Ulta Beauty off Milan Road (U.S. 250). "Our leasing executives and their counterparts at HomeGoods apparently agreed that this would be a perfectly sized location for the new store," Bell said. Operating almost 900 stores nationwide, this marks HomeGoods' first physical presence in or relatively near Sandusky. The closest such brick-and-mortar stores are located in Avon and North Olmsted. TJX Companies own HomeGoods. It's a sister company to T.J. Maxx, which also operates within the Sandusky Mall complex. "HomeGoods is exceedingly popular, and we feel it will be a wonderful addition to the complex," Bell said. Executives for HomeGoods define the business as "the nation's leading off-price home decor store." It sells items in these merchandising categories: furniture, rugs, lighting, decorative accessories, kitchen and dining, bedding, bath, pet accessories, storage, workspace, outdoor, gourmet, wellness and more. "HomeGoods provides an ever-changing selection of high-quality merchandise at prices generally 20% to 60% below full-price retailers' — including department, specialty and major online retailers — comparable merchandise," the statement read. After facing many financial hardships, Bed Bath & Beyond corporate team, in various stages, decided to close down hundreds of its stores nationwide in 2021 and 2022. Sandusky's store learned it would cease operations in September and then permanently closed in December. Earlier this year, the company filed for bankruptcy. All remaining locations should be vacated and closed by June 30.