For nearly three decades, these West Frankfort stores have worked together for one powerful purpose: To better serve the people of the region they revere

BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN

On a snowy Saturday morning in early February, Jim White sits patiently in the softly lit showroom of BFJ Interiors in WestFrankfort, waiting for the day’s first customers to walk through the doors.

He is relaxed and reflective, explaining how his staff’s attention to customer satisfaction has kept his furniture businessrunning smoothly since the 1920s. “We do everything we can to help the community of West Frankfort,” he says.

Then, as if on cue, it happens.White jumps up from his wooden chair, switches on the rest of the building’s main lights and alerts his staff: “We’ve got

customers.” After taking a few seconds to knock the snow loose from their shoes, two customers enter BFJ. Yes, even as thewinter weather hampers visibility outside this historic building, the identity of West Frankfort’s storied downtown is easy to see.

E.R. Brown Furniture Co., West Frankfort House Furnishing Co., and Coleman-Rhoads join BFJ as the four main businessesthat comprise “The Furniture Capital of Southern Illinois.” They are clustered together on Main Street, making furnitureshopping a geographically convenient experience for consumers.

Each possesses unique characteristics, but it is what they all share in common their genuine regard for the people of WestFrankfort that turned competition into collaboration nearly three decades ago.

The Southern Illinoisan SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Friday, February 25, 2011

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6F

2F THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 www.thesouthern.com

E.R. Brown Furniture Co.Extraordinary history, exciting furniture

BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN

History envelops anyone who walksin the tall glass doors at E.R. BrownFurniture Co. One look up offers a

forever view of the original tin ceilings. Adownward glance unveils the original oakhardwood floors.

Owner Sloan Brown certainly embraceshis store’s past. After all, it was hisgrandfather, E.R., who opened the doorsin 1914, and his father, Warren, whooriginally tabbed West Frankfort “TheFurniture Capital of Southern Illinois.”

But his store’s future is what has Sloanmost excited. His sons, Kyle and Matt,are following in the family footsteps. Kyleis a 2010 graduate from Southern IllinoisUniversity’s business college, while Mattplans to graduate from SIUC with anaccounting degree this year. Kyle alreadyworks at the store full time. Matt workspart time on weekends. Both arepassionate about carrying on the familytradition.

“I obviously feel very fortunatebecause there are stores out there thathave no one to turn it over to,” SloanBrown said. “Here, I’ve got two guys. Iknow their grandfather and great-unclesand great-grandfather would be veryhappy, too.”

Nearly 100 years after opening, E.R.Brown is still thriving. The store’sforward-thinking approaches andemphasis on its customers have keptfurniture flying out the doors.

“The 36 years I’ve been here, the pastyear was the best year we’ve ever had,”Sloan Brown said. “This year, so far hasgotten off to just as good as a start. Ourspecial New Year’s Day events are alwaysthe springboards that launch us into agood start to the year.”

The family has also opened a newspecialization shop just two doors downthe block from E.R. Brown. The Brownsrenovated a building that previouslyhoused a realty company, and they nowsell lift chairs and adjustable beds. “Weprobably have the largest selection of liftchairs in stock in the tri-state area,” Mattsaid.

“If it wasn’t for (Kyle and Matt) therewouldn’t have been the new facility,”Sloan Brown said. “We even have moreplans beyond that. That just shows youwhat young ideas can turn into.”

Young ideas have been coming out ofKyle and Matt’s minds since they wereboth in high school. Kyle always knew hewanted to help run the family business,Matt didn’t decide until his freshmanyear of college. They both feel up to thechallenge of keeping the business going.

“We just have to keep doing the samethings we’ve been doing,” Kyle said.

“The fact that we’re going to be herefor a long time to come sets us apart,”Matt Brown added.

E.R. Brown helped guarantee apromising future for his family businessby the way he helped customers throughhard times, especially economic disasterslike the Great Depression.

“During the depression years and thecoal mine strikes, people would write Mr.Brown,” Sloan Brown said. “They wouldthank him for allowing them to skip a

payment or cut their payment down to adollar a week just to get them throughthe hard times. So that’s certainly stuckwith me.”

Sloan Brown tries to duplicate hisgrandfather’s acts of kindness.

“There are times when people run intohard times and we can work out anagreement with them to get themthrough those times,” he said. “That paysoff not only to them, but it’s also paid offto their fathers and grandfathers andgrandmothers through the years whohave bought furniture from us. The sameheld true for them.”

Sloan Brown credits his employees,some who have been with the store fordecades, for helping create happycustomers over the years. “Your store isonly as successful as your employeesmake it,” he says. “We’ve been fortunateenough to always have very good,committed, loyal employees.” Every taskat E.R. Brown — from shoveling snow offthe sidewalks to handling deliveriespromptly and professionally — is

completed with the goal of impressingand satisfying customers.

“Southern Illinois through the yearshas not been quite as affected as the restof the nation as far as economicproblems,” Sloan Brown said. “Our No. 1motto has been customer satisfaction,not only during the sale but after thesale. I think that’s really gotten usthrough the hard times.”

That kind of dedication will surely paydividends in the future, as well.

“All of us, we don’t just come in for theday, but for tomorrow, too,” he added.“We have plans for our business andthat’s one of the most positive aspects ofthe store.”

DETAILS

Phone: 618-932-2012Address: 401 E. Main St., West FrankfortHours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday,

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNOpened in 1914, E.R. Brown Furniture is the oldest of the stores in West Frankfort. Current store owner Sloan Brown will one day turn thebusiness over to his two sons, Kyle (left) and Matt. The store offers a wide selection of La-Z-Boy brand furniture.

401 E. Main West Frankfort618-932-2012

“I’ve seen a lot in 97 years! Two World Wars, a Great Depression and several coal mine strikes. But here I am, still cranking away! My boss’ motto of Old Fashioned Service and Quality Commitment hold true!”

Quality • Service • Customer Satisfaction

To Our Customers Who Have Made Four Generations of Being in Business Possible!

TTHHAANNKK YYOOUU!!

“Since 1914”Store Hours: Mon-Sat 8am to 5pm

FREE IN-STORE FINANCING!

THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 3Fwww.thesouthern.com

Coleman-Rhoads FurnitureRegional reach with small-town charm

BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN

Coleman-Rhoads has outgrown the label “localbusiness.” The company has delivered furniturepieces to customers in Texas, Florida,

Pennsylvania and Georgia, just to name a few states.“That’s not an everyday thing, but it does happen,”

said co-owner Steve Rhoads. “It’s just harder andharder for the consumer to find the amount offurniture and the variety that we can give them here inWest Frankfort.”

Balancing the national attention that its extensive,user-friendly website provides with the small-townprinciples that have kept Coleman-Rhoads in businesssince 1973 is a giant task for owners Rhoads and BrentColeman. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We are definitely a regional business,” Rhoads said.“Our legitimate, everyday business is anywhere within100 miles of West Frankfort. We routinely cover the 16southernmost counties in the state.”

Rhoads credits loyal customers and a slew of savvybusiness decisions for the rapid development ofColeman-Rhoads, but says none were more importantthan the 13,000-square-foot expansion the storeunderwent in 1989. The dealers were approached bynational manufacturer Thomasville Furniture aboutputting in a large gallery of their pieces. They jumpedat the chance.

“When we did that addition, there were five storesgoing out of business in Southern Illinois,” Rhoadsrecalled. “Everybody probably thought we were a littlebit nuts, but sometimes that is when you have to takethat leap of faith.”

Coleman-Rhoads has been able to balance thatboldness to expand with the smarts of knowing whento scale things back. It’s an ever-changing process forsmall businesses, Rhoads says. “We’ve continued tochange and evolve throughout the years,” Rhoads said.“It’s necessary to do that in the business world. Thething about furniture is that it is a major purchase thatcan be postponable sometimes. It’s a window with aconsumer. They don’t do this everyday. Our approachis customer-oriented. Having a lot of different choicesis a huge benefit to the consumers.”

Coleman-Rhoads certainly offers its customersplenty of choices. Galleries and vignettes of a greatvariety of items are the selling point of this loadedshowroom. Rhoads estimates his store sells upwards of40 different vendors, including the popular leathermanufacturer Natuzzi.

“One of the biggest changes in the last 10 years hasbeen the growth of leather furniture,” he said. “We are abig leather dealer. We’ve got the large Natuzzi gallery

DETAILSPhone: 618-932-2128Address: 300 E. Main St., West FrankfortHours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNSteve Rhoads (left) is a co-owner of Coleman-Rhoads Furniture. Co-owners Brent Coleman and his wife, Paula, (right) sit in oneof the Kincaid display rooms at the store. One of the store’s most recent additions is its line of Smith Brothers of Berne. Thestore also offers Natuzzi (below), a line of Italian-inspired furniture.

that is about 4,000 square feet ofnothing but leather furniture.”

Coleman-Rhoads opened in 1973under the original nameColeman’s Corner. Rhoads cameon board in 1980 a few years aftermoving to West Frankfort fromBloomington-Normal. He quicklycaught on to the trends that helpedmake the store a success, and triedto build upon them.

“We have just always tried tohelp people with their experience,”Rhoads said. “There are timeswhen a sofa may look good in thestore and they may not be happywith how it looks when they get ithome. You have to considereverything from the lamps, tablesand other accessories. That’swhere we can be helpful to them.”

Coleman-Rhoads helps itscustomers in other ways, too,especially if they are from WestFrankfort. Whether through

sponsoring sports teams, ordonating to special city projects,Coleman-Rhoads and the otherthree furniture dealers are usuallywilling to lend their names.

“All of us are involvedindividually supporting localathletics and events,” Rhoads said.“As a group I know we’ve beensponsors with high school sports.The park pool, we made a sizeabledonation to get that going. Not tomention together we employ a lotof folks.”

Rhoads’ favorite part of being inthe furniture business is making adaily impact on peoples’ lives.

“We’re dealing with consumers’homes,” he said. “All of our homesare very important to us. The ideathat we can help make that a betteror more enjoyable place to spendtime is the most enjoyable part.You’re improving the daily lives ofpeople.”

300 E. Main Street in Downtown West Frankfort • 932-2128

Premier Furniture Lines Extraordinarily displayed

Beautiful gallery format

4F THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 www.thesouthern.com

BFJ InteriorsEasing the minds of anxious buyers

BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN

According to Jim White, thefurniture industry is afickle one.

“If I had all the answers,” hesays, “I’d be a wealthy man.”White and his wife, Keri, ownBFJ Interiors, which originallyopened in Johnston City in 1921.

The Whites took over the storefrom Keri’s parents a couple ofyears ago and have kept thefamily business rolling along.

“Keeping the store in thefamily makes it an easytransition but also puts a lot ofresponsibility on you,” Whitesaid. “I think between theoriginal owners and now therehas only been one owner outsideof the family.”

White, who has worked insome form of sales his entirecareer, laughs when he tries toexplain the unpredictability ofthe furniture consumer.

“A lot of times if they’re goingto forgo a family vacation orsomething like that they’reprobably going to do somethingto their home,” he said.

“But if the real estate market isdown, they’re not going to sink alot of money into making it looknicer to sell it. But by the sametoken they’re going to bekeeping their home longer sothey want it to look better.”

No matter what drives peopleto BFJ, White knows business isgood. He noticed an increase insales after the 2008 presidentialelection and again after therecent mid-term election.He says there is a directcorrelation between economicstability and the public’sspending habits.

“I think the whole industrystarting around 9/11 took adownturn,” White said. “There

was just a lot of uncertainty andunrest about a lot of differentthings. Whenever the economystarted going down people were holding tight to theirmoney.

“If you think about it, we’renot a necessity. They think longand hard before they spendanything on furnishings.”

BFJ’s huge showroom housesmore than 100 brands offurniture and accessories.Some of the more popularbrands are Bassett, Stanley andFlexsteel.

“The trend has been to themore casual,” White said.“People used to have the formalliving room and dining rooms.Pretty much now they areshifting to the family areas.That’s probably been the biggesttrend.”

Staying ahead of the newtrends is what has helped BFJstand apart from other furniturestores, White said. The store wasthe first to embracecontemporary styles back in thelate-1980s and early 90s whenmost stores were still sellingmore traditional pieces.Finding your niche is key, Whitesays, especially when yourclosest competitor is few doorsdown.

“If we have a customerlooking for a specific brand, wetell them where it is,” he said.“If we don’t have somethingthat they’re looking for we tellthem where it is. Customersappreciate that and the otherowners appreciate it.

“Of course, we’re trying tomake a living and we have billsto pay. So naturally we want tosell everything we can. I want todo it in a way I’m comfortablewith.”

Most smart buyers will checkoptions before making a finaldecision, White says, but thereare exceptions. “We had someparents taking their daughter to

SIU from Chicago,” he recalled.“They saw a bedroom display inthe window on their drivethrough town. The next timethey visited their daughter, theycame in and took it home afterwe boxed it up. You just neverknow.”

White understands that

buying furniture can be anoverwhelming experience,especially considering thevariety of options from whichcustomers have the opportunityto choose.

“We just show them what wehave,” he said. “We’re not ahigh-pressure staff. We’re not

going to walk around the storebehind them trying to close asale.

“We greet people when theycome in. We just make it a pointto check in with them once ortwice. We’re not going to houndthem, and I think theyappreciate that.”

DETAILS

Phone: 618-932-3265Address: 313 E. Main St.,

West FrankfortHours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday-Saturday

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNBFJ Interiors is West Frankfort’ssecond-oldest furniture store,started in the 1920s in JohnstonCity. Pictured above is owner JimWhite. The store offers a wide array of Bassett and Paula Deanbrand furniture.

313 E. Main St. • West Frankfort, IL618.932.3265

www.bfjinteriors.com • FREE DELIVERY

BIG Store SelectionSmall Town Convenience

THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 5Fwww.thesouthern.com

West Frankfort House Furnishing Co.Adapting for success in the business world

BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN

Click and brick.That’s how Andy Brown,manager of West Frankfort

House Furnishing Co., describeshis store’s edge in the expandingbusiness landscape. Back beforebox stores, malls and onlineshopping existed, stores like theone Brown manages dependedon word of mouth and simpleprinciples to succeed.

“Historically, the downtownswere always the strong retailshopping outlets before themalls,” Brown said. “That’swhere everybody wanted to be.Once the malls came around,that changed the buying habits.And now with online shoppingpeople have a lot of differentoptions.”

Rather than let national chainsovertake small businesses,Brown said stores like his wereforced to adapt.

“The advantage we still have isclick and brick,” he said. “Peoplecan do advanced shopping onthe computer and actually comeinto the building to feel andexperience the furniture forthemselves. That’s theadvantage we have — the fullshopping experience.”

Brown’s grandfather openedWest Frankfort HouseFurnishing in 1946 to satisfy agrowing consumer demand forquality furniture. Brown joinedthe family venture full time inthe mid-1970s after graduatingfrom DePauw University inIndiana with a degree inbusiness and economics. “I grewup working the stores in thesummer and on breaks,” Brownsaid. “It just kind of becomespart of your life after you seeyour father and family membersinvolved for so long.”

Brown was switched toanother family-owned store —

Chapman-Rollo inMurphysboro — in 1976. Hereturned to West FrankfortHouse Furnishing 13 years laterand has engineered severalexpansions, including anaddition in 1990.

“Things seem to be gettingbusier all of the time, which isgood,” Brown said. “I think thenational and local recessionaren’t completely finished, butthings are letting up a lot andpeople are feeling better abouttheir spending.”

Brown learned many lessonsfrom his father, Warren, whoplayed a big role in establishingthe current status of WestFrankfort’s successful furnitureindustry.

“We always learned that thecustomer comes first,” Brownsaid. “That included any serviceor anything as far as customercomplaints. Things like a looseleg on a sofa, a squeaky springon mattress or sofa or a loosezipper. Once that phone call ismade, that wheel starts turningto take care of that customer.”

Another way Brown paystribute to his predecessors is byhonoring the history they leftbehind and appreciating thecustomers who keep thebusiness open and growing. Thestore’s original cash register stillsits atop the front counter of thestore.

“The things that we maintainand keep doing are what keeppeople coming back,” Brownsaid. “There’s a legacy ofcustomer service and offeringquality furniture at reasonableprices.”

Finding the right furniture toshow and sell in his store is amulti-faceted process forBrown.

“There’s obviously more andmore emphasis on the Internet,but a lot of companies still havetraveling salesman, which isgood,” he said. “We still need apersonal link between the dealerand the manufacturer. Thatpersonal touch is still veryimportant.”

Although some things willnever change with Brown, he is

certainly open to expanding hisknowledge of furniture. “I’vebeen doing this for 37 years andI’m still learning something newevery week,” he said. He attendsseminars sponsored by theNational Home FurnishingAssociation, and just like theother dealers in West Frankfort,Brown enjoys traveling to theinternational furnitureconference in High Point, N.C.,every year. The home furnishings

market features more than 10 million square feet of showspace and 2,000 exhibitors.

“It’s just like the customercoming into our store, actuallybeing able to see and feel thefurniture,” Brown said. “We getto network with dealers and ifyou can pick up one idea, it’sworthwhile. It’s all abouthelping the customers, makingthe business more efficient, andhopefully more profitable.”

DETAILSPhone: 618-932-6710Address: 202. W. Main St.,

West FrankfortHours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday

West Frankfort House Furnishing isrun by Andy Brown (left), olderbrother of E.R. Brown’s Sloan Brown.With him is his nephew, Matt Brown,one of two sons of Sloan Brown.Both he and his brother, Kyle, willeventually take over the familybusiness.

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERN

202 W. Main • Downtown West Frankfort618-932-6710

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6F THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 www.thesouthern.com

155 Beds

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160 Entertainment Centers

390 Sofas/Sectionals

The catchphraseIn the early 1980s, Warren Brown came up with the

idea to integrate the business interests of all four storesinto one catchy advertising slogan. He called theowners together over coffee to discuss the possibilityof working as a team. The owners agreed and “TheFurniture Capital of Southern Illinois” was born. It wasan impressive bit of foresight by Brown, whounderstood that even though the businesses couldprobably stand successfully on their own, they couldthrive together.

“He knew that in a small town, what’s good for one isgood for all,” said West Frankfort House Furnishingmanager Andy Brown, son of the late Warren Brown.“And by joining forces, you have a little bit more powerwith a group as opposed to one individual trying to doit all. That legacy continues today.”

Andy’s younger brother, Sloan Brown, owns E.R.Brown Furniture. He remembers their dad’s storiesabout how West Frankfort was in a perfect position toreap the benefits of a united effort.

“He thought with taking advantage of the localebeing in the central part of Southern Illinois that wecould advertise together and draw people from a largerarea, which would obviously lead to more customers,”Sloan said. “Through the years, that’s certainly heldtrue.”

BFJ’s White and Coleman-Rhoads co-owner SteveRhoads weren’t part of the West Frankfort furniturefamily back when the catchphrase was coined, butthey’re sure glad to embrace their community’s history.

“It’s probably the best thing they’ve ever done,”White said. “You can spend half your money fightingeach other trying to drive each other out of business.Or you can work together to try to pull people in, whichis what they did.”

Rhoads agrees.“I don’t know if we were really the furniture capital

of Southern Illinois back then, but we sure are now,”said Rhoads, who co-owns his store with BrentColeman. “Anybody that has been here knows that.”

Furniture familiesPassing the torch is a common theme among these

furniture families. Coleman’s Corner becameColeman-Rhoads in 1980 when Rhoads bought outColeman’s father, Archie.

White has owned BFJ Interiors for three years withhis wife, Keri, whose parents, Pete and Susie, ownedthe store before them.

But the Browns’ family history goes back the furthestamong the four stores. West Frankfort’s oldestestablishment, E.R. Brown, sold only wooden pieceswhen it opened in 1914.

Thirty-two years later, E.R. Brown decided to openanother store down the street with the help of his twosons, Warren and Robert.

Now close to handing over the family endeavor to itsfourth generation, Sloan Brown’s sons, Kyle and Matt,the family has set the precedence for how to keeptradition alive.

“I pretty much knew I wanted to join the familybusiness since I was in high school,” said Kyle, whoworks at E.R. Brown full time after graduating fromSouthern Illinois University Carbondale last year. “Iwould come in and work summers just doingeverything from putting handles in dressers to helpingclean the store. We just grew up around it.”

It’s not just bloodlines that are important to WestFrankfort’s furniture dealers. By sponsoring localsports teams, special events and city projects, theowners have continuously strived to make customersand community members feel like extended parts oftheir families.

The stores’ staffs take pride in re-investing themoney they earn into their city.

“That’s one of the main things that you’ll get frompurchasing from one of the West Frankfort dealers,”White said. “The money is in West Frankfort. It isn’t astorefront that’s corporate office is in Chicago or Chinaor wherever. This is people in West Frankfort orsurrounding communities that work here. A lot of themoney is put back into different things in WestFrankfort.”

City prideEconomically, West Frankfort has seen its peaks and

valleys. Like most small towns across the nation,generating jobs does not always come easily. In order tosurvive through downturns like the Great Depressionor the more recent recession, these furniture ownershave stayed true to what their customers know andlove.

“They’re well-established businesses with honest,trustworthy people running things,” said WestFrankfort Economic Developer Don Gass. “That’s whypeople go there and that’s why they get so much repeatbusiness.”

The city of West Frankfort has made it a priority tomake sure it remains the “Furniture Capital.”Enterprise enactments have helped provide the

businesses’ owners some tax incentives to improvetheir facilities. “They’ve gone out of their way to helptheir strong businesses,” Sloan Brown said.

West Frankfort is glad to assist the pillars of itshistoric downtown.

“We’re all just hometown people who work togetherand help each other out,” said West Frankfort MayorTom Jordan. “If you walk down this main street lookingfor furniture and you can’t find what you want, thenyou don’t know what you want.”

Jordan — mayor since September — is a WestFrankfort native who retired as a city firefighter in2009 after 33 years of service. He loves serving thepeople of West Frankfort, a trait he says he shares withhis city’s furniture dealers.

“They are very aware of their customers’ needs,”Jordan said. “They provide them great, qualityfurniture no matter what the economy is like. Duringtimes of economic growth, they have been there forpeople looking to buy a lot of furniture. When timesare tough, they will work with people and help figuresomething out match their budgets.”

Cooperation over competitionSo what is it like to share a street with not only one,

but three of your business rivals?“We kind of call ourselves friendly competitors,”

Andy Brown said. “By the end of the year, everyone hasan equal share. If Mrs. Jones doesn’t find somethinghere, hopefully she’ll find it down the street. We’realways good and open-minded to suggest that theycheck with the other stores.”

Andy Brown has kept copies of all of the newspaperadvertisements the four dealers have collaborated onover the years for their annual New Year’s Day sales.The humorous ads depict the dealers as cowboys,football referees and politicians, among otherattention-getting characters.

“Yeah, those create a lot of talk and ribbing from thecustomers,” Andy Brown said.

All joking and cowboy hats aside, the ads areindicative of how the dealers put aside personalbusiness interests for the betterment of thecommunities and consumer base they respect so much.

“I really appreciate the fact that they’ve cometogether as a group,” Jordan said. “Each one could havesaid, ‘I’m going to be the only furniture store here’ andthey could have worked to drive each other out ofbusiness. But they’ve really put their strengthstogether. That’s been great for other businesses in WestFrankfort and the community as a whole.”

760 Lamps

Furniture linesBBJJFF IInntteerriioorrss

BassettFlexsteelStanley

CCoolleemmaann--RRhhooaaddssHookerNatuzzi

LaneKincaid

ThomasvilleTempur-Pedic

EE..RR.. BBrroowwnnBroyhill

La-Z-BoyRiverside

ChromcraftPeters-RevingtonVaughan-Bassett

WWeesstt FFrraannkkffoorrtt HHoouusseeFFuurrnniisshhiinngg CCoo..

La-Z-BoyEngland

Campbell MattressLea

Riverside

By the numbers Choices abound in the ‘Furniture Capital of Southern Illinois.’ Here’s what you’ll find in the four furniture stores:

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNClockwise, from top left: BFJ Interiors offers a wide array ofBassett and Paula Dean brand furniture; E.R. Brown Furnitureoffers a wide-selection of Laz-Z-Boy brand furniture; Coleman-Rhoads features the Kincaid collection; West Frankfort HouseFurnishing has a newly renovated Laz-Z-Boy KIDZ section.