KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

Those who are trying to “take care of business” will only have a limited time to make a stop at OfficeMax, located at 1711 N. Jackson St., as it will be closing its doors this summer.

According to a store manager as the Tullahoma location, OfficeMax’s final day will be Saturday, June 21. As for the official reason for the closure, The News has reached out to OfficeMax corporate and have yet to hear a statement as of press time.

The closure of OfficeMax locations has been a continuing trend following the 2013 merger with Office Depot, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, there hasn’t been multiple store closures in the last few years.

Tullahoma OfficeMax, which has been a staple in the community since 1999, joins in recent closures of Big Lots and JOANN’s. Big Lots closed its doors in March following the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and closing on a deal to sell the company to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, LLC. Though the Tullahoma location was on the list of stores that could stay open, it would permanently close its doors. The Tullahoma Big Lots had also been a staple in the city for years, first opening in its first location at Northgate Mall in November 1988, and moving to its second location up North Jackson Street in the old Kmart building, sharing residency with Hobby Lobby, in June 2021.

As for JOANN Fabric and Craft, the company would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a year in January, where at the time the plan was to close 500 of its 800 location, including the Tullahoma location. However, following the sale and auction to retail liquidator GA Group it would be announced that all 800 stores would be closing. JOANN’s last day was this past Tuesday, April 29. The Northgate Mall location was originally one of the 10 Tennessee locations that made the store closure list of the 500 stores nationwide. JOANN Fabrics and Crafts first opened its doors at Northgate Mall in May 2014, occupying a portion of the former Dillard’s that sat vacant for a few years prior.