After 48 years of business, Baurer Furniture is closing its doors.
“I’m getting older, and working 60 hours a week starts to wear on you after a while,” said the store’s owner, Ron Baurer, 66, adding that he has been considering closing the store for about three years.
The furniture store at 1503 Washington Road will close for good after the remaining inventory is sold. Baurer said a definite date has not been set, but the building is for sale.
Ben and Verna Baurer, Baurer’s parents, opened Baurer Furniture at the Washington Road location in 1961. Baurer has been the owner since his father retired in 1980.
Baurer said his two children do not live in the area and are not interested in taking over the store. The tough economy is another factor in closing the business, he said.
But Baurer said shutting the doors will be difficult because it means saying goodbye to his loyal customers and employees.
“I want to thank the people in Central Illinois who have shopped here and given me the privilege of creating beautiful rooms over the past 48 years,” he said. “And I also want to thank the staff members who have been here for so long. You can’t do anything without good people.”
“I will miss them, that’s for sure, and the activity,” Baurer said. “It was hard work, but it was something I enjoyed doing.”
Baurer said he thinks quality merchandise and personal service are what have drawn customers back to his store again and again.
“I think when you offer a good product at a reasonable price, people appreciate that,” Baurer said, “especially when it comes with good service. That’s sometimes hard to get at the big-box stores.
“We’ve always been a family owned business, and I’m always here.”
Baurer said he does not have any big retirement plans but is looking forward to visiting his five grandchildren in suburban Chicago and Connecticut.
He said he does plan on remaining active in Washington. He has been an active member of the Washington Rotary Club and the Washington Chamber of Commerce, and the store has sponsored Little League since it began, Baurer said.
“We’ve always tried to support the community because they support us,” he said.
While many of the store’s customers will be sad to see it go, Baurer said it is a good time to take advantage of some great deals.
“Obviously, we’re trying to sell our merchandise, and we’re marking things down because we can’t be left with a building full of stuff,” he said. “There’s not a lot of places left that sell better quality goods.”
