JONATHAN J. HIGUERA
Citizen Business Writer
Barrows Furniture, which has served Tucson customers since 1956 , will close in late February or early March, owner Don Kauffman has confirmed.
Kauffman, whose family has owned the Phoenix-based chain since 1937, said the closure is based on his desire to retire.
After the Tucson store closes, the only remaining Barrows Furniture store will be in Prescott. It will eventually be closed as well, he said.
”We’ve closed most of our other stores in Arizona,” he said. ”It’s just part of going out of business.”
Four years ago, three Barrows stores were closed in Phoenix.
The Tucson store, 2800 E. Broadway, has 18 employees. Some will retire, some are moving out of state, and others are looking for jobs locally, said Kauffman.
”They are all aware that we were going to close at some point,” he said. ”We’re trying to help some of them get placed in other jobs.”
The store’s going-out-of-business sale will begin Jan. 7.
Although the business is ”doing fine” financially, Kauffman ruled out selling it.
”It was not one of the options considered viable.”