Furniture retailer Jake Jabs named to Colorado Hall of Fame

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, February 17, 2012

At the dinner inducting American Furniture Warehouse’s Jake Jabs into the Colorado Hall of Fame are Jim Anton, left, Madison House; Jabs; Scott Coor, Trendwood; and Fran Coleman, American Furniture Warehouse.

DENVER — Jake Jabs, president and CEO of Englewood, Colo.-based American Furniture Warehouse, was named a 2012 Colorado Hall of Fame laureate by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain.

Jabs, one of six honorees this year and the only one in the furniture industry, was saluted for "his enduring and innovative professional contributions to Colorado, the inspirational and ethical manner in which he has conducted his business and his significant philanthropic contributions to civic and community organizations."

The owner of the Top 100 company was honored along with the other laureates at an induction dinner last month that drew more than 1,000 people - a record for the event - including friends, family, industry supporters and community leaders.

Event coordinators recalled Jabs' first serious foray into the furniture business in 1968 with the opening of Mediterranean Galleries in Colorado and Montana and his later purchase of American Furniture Co., which evolved into AFW.

"Over the years, Jabs and his employees have contributed time and resources to thousands of charities, including more than $2 million in contributions each year," the sponsors said in a release.

Jabs serves as national vice president of the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and is involved with Easter Seals, The Children's Hospital, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the American Heart Assn. and other causes. He also recently invited Junior Achievement to house its new JA Finance Park program in AFW's Longmont, Colo., location.