Solomon's Furniture Reopens in Lee Outlets
Owner James Solomon says the Ashley Furniture brand has been a big seller since the store opened.
Solomon's Furniture is returning to the Berkshires at the Lee Premium Outlets. Owner James Solomon now has two retail establishments in the outlets: DJ's Gifts and Solomon's Furniture, and is optimistic about business in his new location.
Since closing his retail space in the now-abandoned segment of the Berkshire Mall in 2018, Solomon had been looking for a new spot for his furniture store. Nearly three years later, he was able to secure the storefront that formerly housed Dress Barn and has been vacant for a couple of years.
Solomon started off his business in 2008 at the corner of Merrill Road and Plastics Avenue. In 2010, the store moved to the mall in Lanesborough for about eight years. The closing came right after Sears closed its doors for good, making him one of the last tenants on the south end that mall.
He opened the gift shop two years later as a seasonal pop-up store in the mall and then moved it to a permanent spot at the Lee Outlets. Because of its success, DJ's just signed a lease for another year.
Solomon said he is excited to reopen his furniture business in the outlets because of the foot traffic it receives, though he misses his store in the mall because of its large size. The outlet's location is about third the size of Solomon's location in the mall.
On Jan. 29, the window coverings that surrounded the empty retail store were removed and Solomon was officially in business. He plans to have a grand opening on Presidents Day, when he will unveil a showroom chuck-full of home furnishings.
"So far, it has been good," Solomon said. "I have a ton of stuff coming up, that's what I'm waiting for and that's when I want to start advertising."
Solomon's Furniture will operate with two delivery people, a retail seller, and Solomon himself.
He said he has had the most success in selling mattresses and Ashley Furniture to Berkshire residents and looks forward to selling more.
"Mattresses I've sold the most of," he said. "Brandwise, Ashley Furniture is my biggest vendor, therapeutic mattresses are my biggest mattress company."
Tags: furniture, store opening,
