Express Kitchens commits $250,000 to help customers of shuttered business

Connecticut-based Express Kitchens has committed $250,000 to a discount package to help customers of defunct Wren Kitchens.

Wren, a British-based brand, shuttered all of its U.S. outlets last week without warning, owing some customers thousands of dollars in unfinished work.

Wren had showrooms in Milford and Newington, alongside a number of smaller outlets in Connecticut.

“We ​are ​going to ​cut ​some ​of ​our ​advertising ​budget ​and ​we’re ​going to ​cut ​some ​places ​to ​try ​to ​get ​this ​done for ​people ​so ​that ​they ​can ​at ​least ​get ​their ​kitchens ​done,” said Express Kitchens owner Max Kothari. “Our ​community, ​our ​neighbors ​in ​Connecticut, ​they ​need ​to ​be ​treated ​right.”

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Express Kitchens has structured the discount program in several tiers.

For Wren customers who paid a deposit but had no work done, Express Kitchens will match the deposit up to $1,000.

For those who paid in full, Express will give up to a $2,500 credit toward a new kitchen.

For those who got partial delivery or if an install was halted, Express will try to match cabinets and give the customer priority scheduling.

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Kothari says some of his suppliers, including countertop company MSI Stone, Richelieu Hardware and cabinet fittings company Rev-a-Shelf, have contacted him to say they will also offer discounts to Wren customers.

“With ​the ​other ​suppliers ​coming ​in, ​I ​think ​this ​program ​will ​only ​get ​enhanced ​as ​more ​people ​hear ​about ​it,” he said.

Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection is investigating the closure of Wren Kitchens. The department is advising customers to send a certified letter to the location where they bought their kitchen requesting a refund, and follow up with state officials if the company does not respond.

Wren is not known to have filed a WARN notice with labor officials, a process that notifies federal authorities of a large layoff. The State Department of Labor is reaching out to help affected employees.

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Kothari says the kitchen industry in general is hurting because of high energy prices, high materials costs, and the continued imposition of tariffs by the Trump administration.

A 25% tariff on imported kitchen cabinets has been in effect since October 2025, and was not affected by the recent Supreme Court decision.