“This Is What Happens When Leadership Loses Sight of What Matters Most”

Reborn: a legacy undone

Nardo confirmed in an interview with Pro Remodeler that he learned of the closure the same morning as everyone else—by phone at 8 a.m.—and described it as “mishandled.” Employees were told to cancel appointments, clear offices by the end of the day, and later discovered that paychecks and health insurance had been cut off.

“It’s just bad for the employees, the customers, the vendors—I don’t understand how it came to this,” Nardo said. “You can’t win the game playing defense. This business runs on trust and relationships, not spreadsheets.”

He said the bankruptcy leaves roughly 2,500 employees and an estimated 4,500 customers in limbo, including unfinished kitchen and bath projects sold through national retailers. Although Reborn had remained profitable under his leadership, he pointed to the leveraged-buyout model behind Renovo as the fatal flaw once interest rates rose and marketing costs surged.

Dreamstyle Remodeling: another sudden stop

In Albuquerque, Dreamstyle Remodeling’s shutdown followed the same pattern. The company, founded in 1989 and acquired by Renovo in 2022, ceased operations without warning to customers or employees. Workers reported learning of the closure through a short email, while customers found disconnected phones and shuttered offices. New Mexico’s Construction Industries Division confirmed that Dreamstyle’s license was active at the time of closure but advised homeowners to file formal complaints if they hoped to recover losses through the state’s Contractors’ Recovery Fund.

NEWPRO Home Solutions: New England’s abrupt shutdown

In Massachusetts, NEWPRO Home Solutions—the largest of Renovo’s New England holdings—went dark the same week. Staff were informed in a five-minute Zoom meeting that operations were ending immediately. Emails and phones were shut off, and final pay was never issued. Customers across New England reported paying thousands in deposits for unfinished window, siding, and bath projects. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has acknowledged consumer complaints but has not announced an investigation.

Minnesota Rusco: the last to fall

Rounding out the series of closures was Minnesota Rusco. Founded in 1955, Minnesota Rusco had long been a fixture in the Twin Cities remodeling market. Its familiar “We’re Minnesota Rusco, since 1955” signs still marked job sites even as the company quietly collapsed in late October. Clients who had paid in full for siding, window, or bathroom projects suddenly found themselves without recourse. Minnesota’s Contractor Recovery Fund may offer some relief—up to $100,000 per consumer and $550,000 per contractor license—but only after a court judgment is obtained. Attorneys and consumer advocates are urging affected homeowners to preserve every contract, receipt, and photo for potential claims as the parent company’s bankruptcy proceedings unfold.