GREENFIELD — The Home Furnishing Co., a staple on Main Street for nearly 100 years, is set to close next month after its owners decided to sell the building, which will be leased to Whitney Hill Antiques.
Co-owner Jeff Abrahamson, who recently took over the business from his parents, Stan and Marcia Abrahamson, said the building was purchased by a Deerfield couple who plan to rent the space to the antiques store. Whitney Hill was forced to find a new home after its current location at 102 Main St. was bought by the Center for Human Development, of Springfield, which plans to turn the building into an integrated health services center in conjunction with the Community Health Center of Franklin County.
Abrahamson said the new owners, Richard Wilby Jr. and Sheila LaGrenade, bought the building for $465,000 with a tentative closing date of Oct. 24. The two are friends of Dale Whitney, who owns Whitney Hill Antiques, and are also vendors at the store.
“It was just something that fit into their needs at this time and everybody is just kind of working together to make it all work for the community, basically,” Whitney said.
Home Furnishing Co. has been on Main Street for 97 years. Jeff Abrahamson and his sister, Debi Roberts, along with her husband, John, took over the family-owned business from their parents earlier this year. Although the building was not on the market, Jeff Abrahamson said when they were approached by the new owners and the price was right, they decided to sell.
“My parents are retired and I have two kids and my sister and brother-in-law have two kids, and they all have their own professions and aren’t interested in the building,” he said. “We started thinking, ‘Is it time?’ My brother John and I have a lot of body aches and pains and stuff like tha. We’ve been delivering furniture for so long and we don’t have the next generation to step in. We just feel as if the timing was perfect.”
Jeff Abrahamson said his father is the most upset about the sale, because it was his family’s business. His father started the company in 1919.
“It’s been a three-generation furniture store and we wanted to make 100 years and we’re close — we’re at 97. It’s bittersweet,” he said. “It’s good, but yet it’s sad that we’re selling.”
Jeff Abrahamson said once the store closes, he will work at his friend’s furniture store — La-Z-Boy Comfort Studio — in West Springfield. His sister and brother-in-law plan to move to Florida to be closer to their son and daughter-in-law.
Dale Whitney said the move is going to be positive for her business, adding that she is thrilled at the encouragement she received from her vendors and customers throughout Franklin and Hampshire counties.
“We have had so many people come in just beside themselves thinking, ‘You’re not leaving Main Street, right?’” Whitney said. “This happening the way that it did is a blessing because we’re so close to where we were. The Home Furnishing building is perfect — it’s got character and charisma, and it’s a landmark of Greenfield.”
She added that with the additional space in the new building, she will be able to bring in 25 to 30 more vendors.
Home Furnishing Co. is holding a sale to clear out as much furniture as possible before the store closes. Jeff Abrahamson said he expects his business to be completely moved out by Nov. 1.
“(Dale Whitney) is a wonderful person and I wish her all the best of us luck, and I hope she keeps this building occupied for many, many years to come,” he said.