Denver furniture company targets Daytona

By VALERIE WHITNEY
Business Writer
DAYTONA BEACH — Furniture Row Cos., a Denver-based chain of home furnishing and accessory centers, wants to open its first Florida complex here.
Engineers representing the company recently applied to the St. Johns River Water Management District for approval of a stormwater management plan for two lots in the Interstate Commerce Park on North Tomoka Farm Road.


Bill McKendry, Furniture Row marketing director, said company officials were eager to get to the Sunshine State for a couple of reasons. “Obviously Florida is a growing state,” McKendry said in a telephone interview.
Also, the area is home to the NASCAR. Furniture Row is the sponsor of the No. 78 car driven by Kenny Wallace on the Nextel Cup series.
Founded in 1974, Furniture Row now operates 330 centers in 31 states. The typical center has between 55,000 square feet and 85,000 square feet. They are divided into four sections — Denver Mattress, Sofa Mart, Oak Express and Bedroom Expressions — each with its own entrance.
“Each store has its own set of buyers who specialize in that merchandise,” McKendry said.
Denver Mattress is both a mattress manufacturer and mattress retailer.
Sofa Mart specializes in casual leather and upholstery home furnishings, as well as accent pieces including occasional tables and armoires.
Oak Express offers real wood furniture for almost any room of the home.
Bedroom Expressions specializes in bedroom furniture.
McKendry said officials have not purchased the land but have tendered an offer to property owner Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co.
“It’s a bit premature,” he said, declining to reveal what the company offered to pay for the land.
Bill McMunn, president of Consolidated-Tomoka, could not be reached for comment.
In other news, the area is losing another large furniture store.
The owners of Vermillion Furniture have decided to call it quits after about 15 years in business.
The store has had several locations during that time. It is on North Ridgewood Avenue in Port Orange now.
The business is having a going-out-of-business sale. A clerk who answered the phone at the store Friday said they are not sure when it will officially close.