Manchester-based Bob’s Discount Furniture has filed paperwork with federal regulators to pursue an initial public offering, signaling plans to take the privately held retailer public after more than a decade of private equity ownership.
The furniture chain disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it intends to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BOBS.” The filing did not specify the size of the offering or a proposed price range.
The retailer operates 206 stores across 26 states as of Sept. 28, 2025, up from 185 locations a year earlier. It sells furniture and mattresses through a combination of brick-and-mortar locations and online channels, with a strategy centered on value pricing and integrated digital and in-store shopping.
Bob’s reported net revenue of $1.72 billion for the nine months ended Sept. 28, 2025, an increase of 20.4% from $1.43 billion during the same period a year earlier, according to the filing. Net income rose 63.6% to $81 million, compared with $49 million in the prior-year period.
Bob’s said some existing shareholders plan to sell shares in the offering and that the company will not receive proceeds from those sales. Investment funds affiliated with its majority owner, Bain Capital, are expected to retain control of the company following the IPO, allowing Bob’s to qualify as a “controlled company” under New York Stock Exchange governance rules.
The filing lists multiple investment banks as underwriters, including J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, among others.
Founded in Connecticut by Bob Kaufman, Bob’s has expanded nationally since Bain Capital acquired the business more than a decade ago. The company is currently led by President and CEO Bill Barton.
The offering will be subject to market conditions and regulatory approval.