French Heritage to remake Drexel's old building in H.P.
Acquisition signals commitment to market
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, July 2, 2007
High Point — High-end case goods and upholstery resource French Heritage has purchased a showroom building here and will remodel it in the style of a French chateau.
The former Drexel Heritage showroom at 1638 W. English Road also will be expanded by about 5,000 square feet to a total of 14,000 square feet.
That's about the same size as the space at 442 N. Wrenn St. that French Heritage has leased for High Point Market showings for the past five years, said Vice President and co-owner Henessy Wayser.
She declined to disclose how much the company is spending on the building acquisition and renovation other than to say it is a huge commitment and investment. Public records indicate that she and her husband and company co-owner Jacques Wayser purchased the building in December for $300,000.
The building was first constructed in 1986 and used for years as a Drexel Heritage showroom. Drexel now has a showroom at 1925 Eastchester Drive in High Point.
French Heritage sources and manufacturers a high-end line of French-inspired case goods and upholstery.
In keeping with its ambience, the chateau-style showroom will have a courtyard and bistro serving French foods and wines during markets.
About 6,000 square feet of the showroom will be devoted to a model of the company's freestanding store concept. That's about twice the size of a similar store model in the former showroom, said Project Coordinator Laura Whipp.
This area will have several rooms, each with product that reflects a region of France. "In each of the areas, we are pulling from all of our collections and creating the same ambiance that is specific to different regions," Henessy Wayser said.
Showroom areas outside the shop will have all-new product, she said. With the new layout, the company also wants to create a sense of contrast by showing different styles in different parts of the showroom.
"The hope is to have a nice mix between the old and the new, and the elegant and the relaxed," said Wayser.
She said the building will replicate French architectural elements, including windows taken from old French buildings.
Wayser said the project shows the company's support for High Point in the face of the growing Las Vegas Market.
"For the high end right now, I don't see High Point changing.... I am supporting High Point and hope High Point continues to support high-end furniture as well, and that we work together to make sure that it stays there."
