Pompano Beach Fl, June 29--One of the state's oldest and largest family owned furniture, floor covering retailers has Sarasota and Port Charlotte in its sights, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
By the end of the year, Baer's Furniture plans to open two mega-showrooms, one in each of the communities.
Southwest Florida's already highly competitive and rapidly expanding furniture retailing sector is experiencing record growth in recent quarters, reflecting the boom in local home building and sales.
The expansion is a "natural progression for us," said Larry Baer, 36, Baer's vice-president for west coast operations and grandson of founder Melvin Baer.
Baer's, founded in 1945 in Indiana, is in its third generation of family operation.
The company sells $115 million worth of furniture each year from 13 showrooms, mostly in Southeast Florida.
Baer hopes that the two new showrooms will bump the revenues up closer to $150 million.
The Sarasota store, 5301 Clark Road, represents an investment of almost $10 million, including land acquisition, and will create about 50 new jobs. The 85,000-square-foot store will "be the largest of all our stores," Larry Baer said. The general manager will be Kevin Steiner, who was formerly with Kanes-Savon in Tampa and Bradenton, he said.
The Port Charlotte store, although smaller at about 60,000 square feet, will also cost about $10 million. Baer's completed a $5.5 million acquisition of the Harbor Square Center at 4200 Tamiami Trail and will create about 30 jobs when the store opens around the end of the year.
Baer's is a "middle-to-upper-end retailer," carrying brands such as Drexel Heritage, Lexington, Broyhill and Henredon, Larry Baer said.
Baer's has integrated interior design services, including hard flooring, carpeting, rugs, faux painting, mirrors, accessories and turnkey houseware packages. Baer's also has stores in Naples and Fort Myers.
