Charles Warner|Daily Times A ribbon-cutting kicked off the celebration of the "Re-Grand Opening" of Farmers Home Furniture Thursday morning. Participating in the ceremony were, from left to right, store warehouse employees Deion Craig and Brandon Gentry, Sales Consultant Kelly Shetley, Credit Manager Sherri Casteel, City of Union Mayor Harold Thompson, Union County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Torance Inman, Store Manager Tom Taylor, Farmers Home Furniture Regional Director John Horne, Farmers Home Furniture Group Manager Chad Jump, and chamber member Pam Roberts.

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Charles Warner|Daily Times This living room suite is part of the new merchandise on display in the newly renovated showroom at Farmers Home Furniture. The store held its "Re-Grand Opening" Thursday morning.

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Charles Warner|Daily Times The "Re-Grand Opening" of Farmers Home Furniture featured a wide array of new merchandise the store has to offer in its renovated showroom. On display in this section of the store are the new bedroom suites available for purchase.

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More than a decade after it first opened its doors, the Farmers Home Furniture store held a “Re-Grand Opening” Thursday to present its customers with a new showroom displaying a new and expanded selection of merchandise.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by City of Union Mayor Harold Thompson and Union County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Torance Inman, Store Manager Tom Taylor spoke about how the company’s philosophy of providing its customers with quality products at a reasonable price and financing that allowed them buy those products has enabled the company to grow during the past 60 years.

“In 1949, in a small farming community in the middle of Georgia, a young entrepreneur named Sherwin Glass bough into the American Dream,” Taylor said. “With a little over $1,000 worth of used furniture, he opened the first Famers Furniture showroom. Mr. Glass believed in hard work and he trusted in the basic goodness of everyday people. He believed that every family should be able to purchase the home furnishings necessary to live in comfort. His business model was simple: provide a good product at a good price, and allow your customers to pay a little each month to get what they need.

“From those humble beginnings grew the Farmers Home Furniture company that we know today,” he said. “From one single store in Soperton, Ga., to over 175 stores across the southeast, Farmers Home Furniture has become a major player in the furniture industry.”

Those stores include the Union Farmers Home Furniture store located at 408 N. Duncan Bypass in the Merchants Walk Shopping Center. The store opened its doors in 2001 and Taylor said Thursday’s Re-Grand Opening is designed to celebrate and showcase both Farmers Home Furniture’s continuing commitment to its customers and to the community as embodied in the philosophy of its founder and the changes that have been made at the store.

“The store has been remodeled, we’ve remodeled the showroom, and there are expanded selections in TVs, upholstery, bedroom and living room suites,” Taylor said. “When people come in and see the new showroom and the new furniture we have they’ll be impressed.”

“I think it (the Re-Grand Opening) is going to let more people know that we are here and what we have to offer,” he said. “This investment shows our commitment to and appreciation of the community.”

In addition to the expanded selection of merchandise, Taylor said the store continues to offer financing through its Smart Credit program which can be applied for online.

As part of the celebration of the store’s Re-Grand Opening, Taylor said it is having a drawing for a 42-inch flat panel television. Persons may register at the store for the drawing which will be held Saturday, May 19.

The store’s Re-Grand Opening was welcomed by Thompson who praised the store for it contribution the local economy.

“We congratulate you on being one of the Top 100 furniture companies in the country and one of the largest privately-owned companies with 175 locations throughout the southeast,” Thompson said. “Thank you for the jobs you hve provided and will continue to provide and the contribution this business makes to our local economy. Once again, we say thank you and congratulations on your success and we wish you much success in the future.”

Inman praised the store for its years of membership in the chamber and for its confidence in the future of Union County.

“Farmers Home Furniture has been here 11 years and has been a faithful member of the Chamber of Commerce,” Inman said. “Their Re-Grand Opening and commitment to serving Union County in the future is a testament to their faither in the progress of Union County.”

For more information about Farmers Home Furniture call 429-8751 or go online at www.farmershomefurniture.com.