Furniture Business News

Ashley buys site for store

August 23rd, 2007

Property abuts Cabela’s in Town of Polk
By TOM DAYKIN

Plans for a 56,000-square-foot Ashley Furniture store near the Cabela’s outdoor gear store in the Town of Polk are proceeding, with Ashley recently completing its purchase of the development site.

Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. bought a 5.3-acre site from Cabela’s for an undisclosed price, said Andy Stefanich, who brokered the transaction for CB Richard Ellis Inc.


Ashley plans to begin construction as soon as possible, Gary Colby, Ashley’s senior real estate manager, said Wednesday. Ashley hopes to open the store by February, Colby said.

Ashley was initially denied zoning permission for the store by the Germantown Village Board, which was using its extraterritorial zoning authority.

But the board in May approved the plans after Ashley addressed concerns about storm water management and other issues.

Ashley has opened several large furniture stores throughout the nation in recent years.

In the Milwaukee area, the continuing expansion by Ashley and other chains that operate large furniture stores has heightened competitive pressure on smaller furniture retailers, forcing some to close.

Ashley, in addition to being a retailer, is one of the nation’s largest furniture manufacturers. Like other furniture store chains, Ashley also imports an increasing volume of furniture from Chinese manufacturers.

The Cabela’s store, which opened a year ago, draws customers from throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It was expected to help draw additional retail development to its location, which is where U.S. Highway 41 and U.S. Highway 45 split. That site straddles the Town of Polk and the Town of Richfield.

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