Minnesota Rusco closes; parent Renovo files bankruptcy as AG urges consumer complaints
Minnesota Rusco, a 70‑year‑old New Hope–based home improvement company, abruptly ceased operations after its parent, Renovo Home Partners, filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, leaving employees—who say they had no advance notice and received only three days of health insurance—and customers stranded, with some reporting large prepayments (one customer cited $48,000); the company’s website and social profiles were taken down. Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry confirmed Rusco was licensed and advised affected homeowners to sue and obtain a court judgment to claim from the Contractor Recovery Fund (limits: $550,000 per contractor, $100,000 per consumer), while Attorney General Keith Ellison urged consumers to file complaints and dispute credit‑card charges.
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📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota Rusco, a New Hope-based home improvement company that had operated since 1955 (about 70 years), has ceased all operations; its official website posted a closure statement and its Facebook and LinkedIn profiles were taken down.
- Parent company Renovo Home Partners filed for bankruptcy Wednesday morning; earlier searches had initially found no bankruptcy filings or WARN/layoff notices.
- Employees say they were blindsided by the sudden closure — staff were notified around 8 a.m., received only three days of health insurance and had no advance notice.
- Customers report disrupted projects and unpaid work or deposits, including one homeowner who says he prepaid $48,000 for window installation, the crew did not show and the company has been unreachable.
- Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) confirmed Minnesota Rusco is a licensed contractor, has heard from roughly 25–30 affected homeowners, and advised consumers must first sue and obtain a court judgment to pursue reimbursement from the Contractor Recovery Fund.
- The Contractor Recovery Fund limits are up to $550,000 total per licensed contractor and up to $100,000 per consumer; DLI provided contact and complaint submission channels for impacted consumers.
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison urged affected consumers to file complaints and dispute credit‑card charges and said his office provided phone contacts to assist people seeking help.
📰 Sources (4)
Rusco employees 'blindsided' by sudden closure after 70 years in business
New information:
- Parent company Renovo Home Partners filed for bankruptcy Wednesday morning, according to employees notified at 8 a.m.
- Minnesota Rusco posted an official website statement confirming it has ceased all operations.
- Former employees say they had no advance notice and received only three days of health insurance.
- Attorney General Keith Ellison urged affected consumers to file complaints and dispute credit‑card charges; AG office provided phone contacts for assistance.
Minnesota Rusco fallout: What can current customers do?
New information:
- DLI says customers must first sue Minnesota Rusco and obtain a court judgment to claim from the Contractor Recovery Fund.
- Contractor Recovery Fund limits: up to $550,000 total per licensed contractor and up to $100,000 per consumer.
- DLI reports hearing from approximately 25–30 homeowners affected by the closure.
- Minnesota Rusco is confirmed as DLI-licensed, making affected homeowners potentially eligible for fund reimbursement.
- DLI provided contact and complaint submission channels for impacted consumers.
Minnesota Rusco, a 70-year-old home improvement company, appears to have closed
New information:
- Customer Jeremy Frahm says he prepaid $48,000 for window installation; crew did not show on Wednesday and the company is unreachable.
- Minnesota Rusco’s Facebook and LinkedIn profiles have been taken down.
- No bankruptcy filings or WARN/layoff notices were available as of Wednesday.
- A LinkedIn post by former Reborn Cabinets head Vince Nardo states Renovo Home Partners, Minnesota Rusco, Reborn Cabinets and two other companies have closed.
- Minnesota Rusco is based in New Hope and has operated since 1955.