![]() ![]() "It really gave us the confidence to move forward." "It's no secret that commercial real estate opportunities are better than they have been in decades," Howard said. Lower real estate prices meant a lower cost of entry. ![]() Howard said he was able to expand into Atlanta because the company, which offers modern eclectic furniture for less than high-end retailers, saw a void for its products in this market. The Arkansas company has 21 stores and this was its first foray into Georgia. Metro, opened three Atlanta-area stores this week in The Avenues projects, and is looking for a fourth location, in Buckhead, for the spring. She doesn't expect to see business pick up for furniture retailers for another two years. Since she announced the store was closing and began to discount the merchandise three months ago, Mamtani said she has sold more than she did in the previous eight months. More and more, they were waiting for a sale." "People would keep coming in to see us, but they wouldn't open their purse strings. "It's very hard to sell enough to pay the bills," she said. Rupal Mamtani, owner of Global Living in Buckhead, said she is closing that store less than two years after it opened. Z Gallerie closed its store at Perimeter Mall following a reorganization. The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center has seen at least one furniture retailer go out of business. Arte Forma shut down its store on Dawson Boulevard's furniture row. While Seaman said he is seeing some pent-up demand for furniture because people put off major purchases during the recession, he has also seen that demand come too late for several furniture retailers.īeverly Hall closed its Buckhead store a year ago, though it still has locations in Roswell and South Carolina. He said, though, that he expects to close some other locations as new store sales cannibalize those that are already in the market. Seaman said it is opening new stores opportunistically, as it sees available real estate. The company is due to open a 40,000 square foot showroom in October in the Perimeter Mall area where for 10 years it has been looking for a site. ![]()
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