Gorman’s Home Furnishings and Interior Design – a Michigan style leader in fine home furnishings for more than 70 years – formally announced company representatives have signed a lease in Grand Rapids to open the company’s fifth design center. The lease was signed by Gorman’s partners Tom Lias, president and COO; Bernie Moray, CEO; Jeff Roberts, executive vice president, and John Moray, vice president of operations.
Gorman’s will move into the spaces formerly occupied by Israels Home Furnishings at 2320 28th St. SE and Israels Windows Floors & More at 2340 28th St. SE, both in Grand Rapids. A total of nearly 55,000 square feet, the adjacent showrooms are expected to open for business in early February 2011.
“The Grand Rapids Gorman’s design center will mirror the format of our existing metro Detroit stores, including a design team with our deep commitment to quality and our 100 best brands – all designed for unlimited price ranges, style ranges and custom options,” said President Tom Lias. “Gorman’s offers all the services style-conscious consumers and trade professionals need to make a house a home.”
When hiring for the new Gorman’s store is completed, it will employ as many as 40 associates, many who had been employed with the now defunct Israels and Klingman’s furniture stores.
Added Lias, “Israels was an advocate for the community for more than 55 years and they built a very close-knit, talented team committed to delivering the best in design and developing relationships across western Michigan. We look forward to welcoming many of them into the Gorman’s family and continuing the tradition of delivering the best in home furnishings in Grand Rapids and beyond.”
Gorman’s offers fine furniture and accessories for every room of the home at a range of price points from sought-after names such as Better Homes and Gardens, Henredon, Hooker Furniture, Lexington, Natuzzi, Paula Deen, Ralph Lauren, Stanley, Stickley and Universal. As a resource center for the design community and public, Gorman’s offers name-brand carpet; laminate, vinyl, ceramic tile and hardwood floors, as well as window treatments, custom bedding, upholstery and color-matching services. Customers in Grand Rapids, as well as those visiting the company’s SE Michigan design centers, will also have access to 15 specialty shops, including the sleep, leather, health, casual dining and designer closeout shops.
Gorman’s Must Be Right Policy offers clients peace of mind – shopping with the knowledge that if it isn’t right, the company will do everything it can to make it right – and each purchase is backed by Gorman’s National Low Price Guarantee.
Operating under the Drexel Heritage name, Gorman’s exited the Grand Rapids market in 1996 after 15 years, when the building the company occupied was sold during lease negotiations. Coincidentally, this is the same building that was occupied until recently by Israels, and the same space in which Gorman’s will be reopening.
About Gorman’s Home Furnishings and Interior Design
For more than 70 years, Gorman’s has been recognized as the original Michigan style leader in home furnishings. With a reputation built on a commitment to quality – quality merchandise and quality design – the company delivers all of the best brands, not just a few, at the best prices-regardless of price point. Gorman’s nearly 50 designers have a combined 1,000+ years of residential and office design experience using Gorman’s expansive resource area and textiles library. Both designers and clients can rest assured when working with this style leader. Everything is backed by Gorman’s “Must Be Right” service guarantee. Showrooms are conveniently located in Shelby (Lakeside), Novi, Southfield (Contemporary), Troy and coming soon to Grand Rapids. For more information, visit www.Gormans.com.