Shannon Litz / Nevada Appeal
Carson City welcomes something old and something new Monday as JM Furniture’s former northern Douglas County outlet begins a grand-opening event.
The old part is the company, in Carson City since 1970 with the main store now at 3333 N. Carson St. The new part is the relocation of the second and smaller outlet that was in the Topsy Lane shopping center just outside the city that now goes into space at 4370 S. Carson St. It is 9,000 square feet of display space; the main store to the north is 50,000 square feet.
Jerry Ott, a longtime manager for the firm also known as At Home With JM Furniture, said business prospects look good at each location.
“Timing-wise, I think — with houses stating to sell — it’s going to pick up,” Ott said. “Hopefully it’s going to keep on rolling.”
The Topsy Lane outlet closed months ago after nine years there because shopping center operators wanted a cosmetics firm to locate in that space, Ott said, which he understood for the center’s foot-traffic prospects. He added about the new location, “We found a better spot” and that the company wants to “keep the business in Carson.”
The company was started by the late Charles Herman 43 years ago. Jeff Herman and Jacque Werner, the founder’s son and daughter, carried on the business after their father died in 1998. Ott and Todd Werner, Jacque’s husband, are the managers. Werner has overseen the south location.
After picking an item during the monthlong or six-week-long grand opening, Ott said, customers can pop a balloon. Inside will be a coupon worth 10 percent to 25 percent off the item’s price.
“Anybody can do 50 percent off if they mark it up enough,” Ott said.
The new outlet will have different selection than the main store, he said.
Ott also said because business has picked up, JM Furniture was able to retain the 24 full-time employees it had when the Topsy Lane outlet closed. “So that in itself is good,” he said.