Britt Conway  / WSLS NewsChannel 10
The Hooker Furniture plant in Martinsville is the

company’s last wood furniture plant but this plant will soon close.

“We’re kinda getting over the shock,” says Lewis Cantor.

Lewis has been Vice President of manufacturing for 14 years but in two months he and his 280 employees will have to find work elsewhere.

“I’m gonna work with these folks for the next two months and make sure we take care of them and then I’ll worry about what my future is gonna be.”

And Lewis isn’t surprised. He used to manage five plants but, since 2003, one has closed each year.

“It’s just been consolidating and basically been going to Asia. The American consumer wants a value and just the cheaper labor in China.”

Value at the price of jobs.

But the Hooker plant closing is going to affect more than just the people losing their jobs. I talked to business owners who are worried about the City of Martinsville.

Lloyd Hairston owns a barber shop near the plant.  He doesn’t think there are 280 jobs to be filled and so he worries about his business.

“My business flows through the people. If my people in the community don’t have jobs, it’s a little bit strenuous on them to continue to be patrons for us.”

Lloyd says, only time will tell.