Gennet outlines San Francisco Mart's expansion plans
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 24, 2002
MONTEBELLO, Calif. — MONTEBELLO, Calif. — The San Francisco Mart is about to begin the exterior restoration of Mart 1 and will add as much as 40,000 square feet of exhibit space by next winter, President Michael Gennet told a group of manufacturers, sales representatives and retailers here.
He also said the Mart is signing new tenants and has renewed more than 70 showroom leases through 2004 and 2005 with companies including Ashley, Flexsteel, Klaussner, Simmons and Winners Only.
Speaking to the Home Furnishings Representatives Guild of Southern California, Gennet responded to questions about the competition the San Francisco market will face from the proposed World Market Center in Las Vegas, which is planning its first market for early 2004.
He said he believed there is no need for another exhibition venue to serve the West, and that having two simultaneous markets in the region might be confusing for buyers and divisive for the industry.
He said the San Francisco Mart fully intends to stay in the game.
"Instead of declining, our markets are showing more vitality than ever, as indicated by the superb market in January," said Gennet. "We'll celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2015, and we plan to be a successful, fully leased furniture market at that time."
Upcoming improvements at the SFM include the restoration of Mart 1's Art Deco façade, with the replacement of more than 830 windows. Scaffolding should be removed from the building by early next year. Public areas also will be renovated, and the Mart will continue its program of providing showroom improvements at no charge to tenants.
Temps on 3 will be a new, 16,000-square foot summer venue for temporary tenants on the third floor of Mart 1, in space vacated by an office tenant. The SFM will keep its existing temporary space on the second floor.
Another 24,000 square feet of exhibit space may open by the winter market, Gennet said.
He made a case for San Francisco as the "Home of the Western Furniture Industry," noting buyers' allegiance to the venue for 87 years, the work and play options in the city, and the balanced mix of West Coast and Eastern manufacturer tenants.
More than 1,000 manufacturers show at the Mart or the city's other show buildings, the Concourse and the Design Center, he said.
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