HomeBase Going Home

HomeBase (Irvine, Calif.), one of the many regional home-improvement retailers trailing national giants Home Depot and Lowe's, will develop a new store concept called House2Home. The new stores will include a home furnishings department.

The retailer will use a new $45 million loan to convert what's left of its mostly warehouse-style chain. It plans to open 42 of the new stores by the end of July.

HomeBase had as many as 90 retail locations in 10 Western states, catering to both do-it-yourselfers and professional contractors. The 100,000-sq.-ft. centers contained remodeling and repairing products, lighting products , plants, lumber, paint and tools. But the company recently announced it would close about 25 stores, mostly in California, and it will be converting all remaining locations to House2Home concept.