Clint Engel
WASHINGTON
Colony House Furniture, which opened a 40,000-square-foot stores in Centreville, Va., three years ago, is closing it and consolidating in


its Arlington, Va., store. And Stanis Furniture owners George and Rita Stanis plan to close their Fairfax store and transfer ownership of the remaining store in Chantilly, Va., to a group of the company’s  managers later this year.

Earlier this year another local retailer, Beltsville, Md.-based Mastercraft Interiors, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and began liquidating its four stores.

According to Colony House’s Web site, the upscale retailer is holding a $3 million “Closing-Consolidation Sale” as it consolidates in Arlington.

When he opened the Centreville store, President JR Diffee had said he was targeting a generally younger consumer. He could not be reached for comment for this story, but in a recent interview with the Washington Post, he said it “didn’t work out.”

Diffee blamed a “quadruple whammy” of factors, including the slowdown at retail, new competition, changing consumer lifestyles and price deflation brought on by imports. But he said the Arlington store remains successful.

George Stanis couldn’t be reached for comment either, but management confirmed the closing plans as well the eventual ownership change to managers Mary Fornasar-Bell, Beth Kelley and Tim Shier once the Stanises retire.

While conditions have been tough, Shier said he and his partners believe the business is cyclical and will rebound.

“Our store philosophy of outstanding service in all aspects of the business will be recognized and appreciated by our customers,” he said. “We think we will be much more able to supply service than larger corporations.”
The surviving location will be the 116,000-square-foot showroom and warehouse in Chantilly. That store, formerly called 2-Day Furniture, is currently operating as a clearance center.

 When the new owners take over, it will have more of the full line of Stanis’ range of midpriced goods, but with a few lower-end lines, Shier said. He said he expects the store to do about $5 million in sales in its first year under the new group.