Furniture Today,r
NEW TAZEWELL, Tenn. — After a quarter century run, case

goods manufacturer Oakwood Furniture Mfg. is winding up its business operations this week.

The company closed its 82,000-square foot, 56-employee factory here in March. The business remained open for the balance of the year, filling orders and selling off inventory.

David Bowen, a former company vice president and son of company owner Hershel Bowen, said the company finished filling orders around July and has spent the past 60 days liquidating its remaining inventory. That process was expected to be completed this week.

Hershel and David Bowen formed Oakwood Furniture about 25 years ago. It produced a line of solid wood furniture including bedroom and entertainment centers. In news reports when the factory closed, David Bowen said the plant closed because of competition from imports.

He said it is too soon to say whether he and his father eventually might get back in the business.

“There’s no way you can compete with the overseas market,” he said. “Everybody will just be handling imports and working for overseas firms and not for themselves.”