— Furniture Today,
HIGH POINT — John Schenk, former president of the Hickory (N.C.) Furniture Mart, has been named to lead the transition of The Atrium Furniture Mall here from a multi-vendor retail operation to a market showroom building.


Once a destination for out-of-town furniture shoppers, the building no longer will lease space to retailers and instead will focus on High Point Market exhibitors, said building owner Steve Ikerd of Ikerd Enterprises.

Ikerd said he hopes to complete the conversion by next year’s spring furniture market. Schenk, who left the Hickory Furniture Mart in January 2003, will handle leasing for the building.

The 223,000-square-foot property at 430 S. Main St. was listed for sale at $27.2 million last year. A few furniture retailers remained open in the building earlier this month.

Ikerd also owns the 350,000-square-foot Catawba Furniture Mall in Hickory, N.C.