By JOYCE SMITH
The Fuhrs have been in the fine furniture business for four generations.
But with retirement looming, family health concerns and changing


demographics, the Fuhrs say it is time to close the business while their family name is still known for quality furniture, instead of selling the business.

“The business is still viable. We’re not closing because we have to,” said Donald Fuhr, co-owner with brother Richard Fuhr. “I’m 64 and I’ve been doing this 51 years. I want to travel while I still can, take the pressure off and enjoy myself, have a weekend off. When you’re in business you are 24/7.”

Fuhr’s Furniture, at 12800 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, is having a closing sale, with discounts of 30 percent or more. While the store is still well stocked with furniture in such brands as Baker, Hickory Chair and Henredon, the Fuhrs expect to close by fall.

The brothers’ grandfather, Phillip Fuhr, a carpenter, came to the U.S. from Germany around 1903. He later built model furniture that was then mass-produced for Abernathy Furniture in the West Bottoms.

His son, Leo Fuhr, built furniture from scratch in the basement of his home on 18th Street in Kansas City, Kan. He eventually began to take over the house, even converting the dining room to a showroom. He opened Leo M. Fuhr Upholsterer in the 1960s.

“We built the business by selling high-quality furniture at a discount,” said Donald Fuhr. “People traveled from Johnson County across the 18th Street Expressway. It was an event to come to our store.”

Donald Fuhr’s brother, Richard Fuhr, joined the firm in 1965.

In 1976 they opened a 7,000-square-foot Fuhr’s Furniture store on 63rd Street. Fuhr’s later expanded to a 30,000-square-foot showroom with a 12,000-square-foot warehouse.

Donald Fuhr’s son Mike Fuhr, 32, joined the company after earning a degree in medical records.