Dallas-based TreeHouse to close

The green home improvement store will close its two remaining stores in Dallas and Plano. Courtesy of TreeHouse.

Dec. 11, 2018

Sad news on the local green business front.

TreeHouse, the green home improvement store that aimed to give remodelers an eco-friendly alternative to big box stores, is closing.

The company was cofounded by green visionary Jason Ballard in Austin in 2011.

In 2017, Ballard partnered with Dallas investor and Container Store cofounder Garrett Boone to expand operations.

According to the Dallas Morning News, other TreeHouse investors included Bill Robinson, executive vice president of Southlake-based Sabre; and Justin Cox, whose father, Berry Cox, was an original and longtime board member of Home Depot.

They opened a Dallas store in June last year. A Plano store followed just months later in January.

At the Dallas store opening, Ballard talked about his dream of expanding the stores throughout the U.S.

“People would say, of course, you can be successful with a store like this in AUSTIN,” Ballard said chuckling. “We want to prove this is not just for special weird people. This is going to be the new normal.”

Jason BallardJason Ballard talks green home improvement at TreeHouse preview in Dallas in May 2017. Photo by Andrea Ridout.

Initially, TreeHouse wowed North Texas greenies with its carefully curated showroom featuring everything from walnut shell pot scrubbers to solar panels. One of its bragging points - it was the first retailer authorized to sell the Tesla Powerwall, a home battery.

Last month, Green Source DFW awarded TreeHouse with its Corporate Trailblazer award.

However in May, there were signs of potential strain. Ballard left the company to cofound another company called ICON, focused on 3D printing technology for homes. The Austin store closed and the headquarters moved to Dallas.

TreeHouse released a statement this week saying it had taken a “hard look at its future” and decided to “wind down operations.”  

“We have made great strides towards our goals but fell short of those needed to secure future growth.”    

Following the store closing announcement, many grumbled on social media that the pricing for the high-end items was its downfall.

“Great products there. It was just those prices....,” said Jason Winningham, aka the Green Tip Guy.

No word yet on how long the stores will stay open or if sales are planned.

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