Salmon's store rises from the ashes in Calif.
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 11, 2003
Hanford, Calif. — Salmon's Furniture Galleries, a family-owned business in the San Joaquin Valley for 46 years, has opened a new 35,000-square-foot store here, less than two years after a fire destroyed its old store.
Craig Johnson, Salmon's owner, was determined to rebuild his successful store in this rural community of 45,000 people. The new $2 million showroom, about the same size as the old store, is in the city's historic district. "It was important to blend in with the historical architecture of the 1900s that fills the downtown area," he said.
Johnson and his staff opened a 2,500-square-foot customer support and sales location during the rebuilding, and were pleased with the community and customer support they received. Sales ran at about 48% of pre-fire levels, and Johnson etched the names of customers who bought after the fire in bricks on a wall in the new store.
Business at the new store is exceeding expectations, Johnson said. The full-service store offers interior design services and draws about 78% of its business from out of town. The store delivers up to 75 miles.
In October 1983, Salmon's opened California's first Broyhill Showcase Gallery. The new store continues the tradition with a 7,000-square-foot Broyhill gallery. There's also a Lane Comfort Showcase, and leather and bedding galleries.
Other key vendors include Lexington, Pulaski, Serta, Hancock & Moore, Palliser, Horizons, Howard Miller and Rowe.
