ZEBULON, N.C. — After 113 years in business, the locally owned furniture store Whitley Furniture is closing.
Whitley Furniture in Zebulon is closing after 113 years
The store has been family-owned for four generations
The is holding a sale until all the furniture is sold
Whitley Furniture opened in 1909 by the current owners' great-grandfather, R.J. Whitley. Current owners and siblings Charles Estes and Nelle Carroll are the fourth generation to own the family business.
"Some of my early memories are coming here as a child, of course," Estes said. "Just hanging out with parents, to playing hide and seek, tearing the furniture up.""Some of my early memories are coming here as a child, of course," Estes said. "Just hanging out with parents, to playing hide and seek, tearing the furniture up."
Estes and Carroll say they just don't have a fifth generation to pass down the over 65,000 square-foot building to. After exploring several options, Estes says they decided closing the business was the best option.
The business has a total of eight buildings, stretching a whole block in downtown Zebulon. Zebulon Buildings lists the property for sale for almost $5.3 million.
Estes says he will be enjoying traditional retirement, and Carroll is still figuring out what is next for her.
The store is holding a sale until all of its warehouses are emptied of the remaining furniture.