Sales bust finishes Unpainted Furniture

(KRQE) ALBUQUERQUE - A 40-year fixture among Albuquerque's furniture retailers is going out of business describing itself as another victim of the weak economy and crashed housing industry.

Unpainted Furniture Center on Menaul NE has been in business for 40 years but has seen sales fall dramatically.

"I would say the foot traffic through the store is 20 percent of what it used to be, and no matter what we try it doesn't seem to bring them in," owner Steve Upah said. "We are current on our bills, and people are getting paid."

Upah told KRQE News 13 that after much consideration and discussions with his family, the store will begin liquidating its inventory on May 23.

"My family, we really haven't had an income much for a year," Upah said. "It's just been a lot of work trying break even."

The shutdown will mean the loss of about 24 jobs. Employee Dushaun Brumfield said he was shocked, but has a positive outlook about moving on to a new adventure.

"I have no problem finding jobs in the state," Brumfield said. "It will give me some vacation time, a good two weeks, and then it's back on the job search."

Upah said he believes the economy and the slumping housing market are to blame for the slowdown in his store.

"I think the furniture industry is tied to the housing industry, so when the housing is in a slump it directly affects us," he said.

Albuquerque-based American Home furniture fell on hard times last year closing stores in Arizona and New Mexico while going through a bankruptcy restructuring. The company, founded in 1935, retained three New Mexico stores.

Upah says the Unpainted Furniture store was opened by his uncle 40 years ago. He then took over the store and then 10 years ago he handed over management to his son.

Unpainted Furniture will close Friday so employees can prepare for liquidation. The store will begin the liquidation sale on May 23 and has 90 days to sell everything.