By Christopher Boyce
After 78 years of selling upscale home furniture, DeBasio Furniture Co. announced Monday that it will close because of slow sales.


Mike Noblot, company president, said trends in the furniture industry left no room for the family owned, high-end retailer. The company has about 100 employees, who were told last week of the decision to close.

“Furniture manufacturers have greatly changed the nature of service and quality,” Noblot said. “Rather than having to compromise on quality, value or service, we felt the time was right to make a graceful exit.”

The company has hired Deere Park Associates of Northbrook, Ill., to manage a liquidation sale at both of its stores. That sale begins Friday.
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In a statement, John DeBasio Jr., chairman of DeBasio and son of the founder, John Sr., said: “If we have to close, we want to do it with a meaningful event, saying goodbye and thanks to our long-time customers.”

DeBasio opened in 1928 with a store in the 100 block of Lemay Ferry Road. It has been through several moves and remodels since then. Today, it has a store in Ellisville, opened in 1987, and a 50,000-square-foot showroom at 2151 Lemay Ferry Road, opened in 1997.

cboyce@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8345