Whitley Furniture Galleries
{{Short description|Furniture retailer in North Carolina, 1909–2022}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| image = Whitley Furniture Galleries main building, Zebulon NC.jpg
| image_caption = The main building of the furniture gallery near closure
| image_alt = A gray corner-building with white and red trim on top
| former_name = {{hlist|Zebulon Supply Company (until 1946)|Whitley Furniture Company (until 1979)}}
| type = Furniture retailer
| founded = {{Start date|1909}}
| founder = R.J. Whitley
| defunct = {{End date and age|2022}}
| fate =
| hq_location_city = Zebulon, North Carolina
| area_served = The Research Triangle, Wake County, and Eastern North Carolina
| website = {{URL|whitleygalleries.com}} ({{small|defunct}})
}}
Whitley Furniture Galleries (abbreviated as Whitley Galleries) was a former furniture retailer located in Zebulon, North Carolina. While operational, the galleries were advertised as "Wake County's largest furniture store", and had the largest furniture stock in the Research Triangle until closing in 2022.
Founded as the Zebulon Supply Company in 1909 by R.J. Whitley, the business was passed down to his son C.V. Whitley upon his death in 1924. Under C.V., the business, which before had been a general supplies store, began to specialize in furniture. This product specialization, alongside its location in a crossroads town, large floor space, and good business practices, helped the business survive the Great Depression. Radio advertising and giveaways helped make the business one of the town's most successful businesses, and the county's largest furniture store. In January 2022, the business announced its closure after 113 years of operations, citing a lack of a fifth generation to carry on the family business. The eight buildings which made up the galleries were put on sale for $5,299,000.
History
= Founding and growth =
Whitley Galleries was one of Zebulon's oldest business firms,{{cite news |title=Zebulon Overrun For Trade Event |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-zebulon-overrun-fo/149305722/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=5 |date=January 6, 1935 |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614080447/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-zebulon-overrun-fo/149305722/ |url-status=live}} beginning operations in 1909 as the Zebulon Supply Company, with R.J. Whitley as the owner and president.{{cite web |last1=Dolder |first1=Lars |title=NC furniture store closing after over a century and 4 generations of family business |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article257557808.html |publisher=The News & Observer |date=January 26, 2022 |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204160835/https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article257557808.html |url-status=live}} R.J.'s son, C. Vaiden Whitley (going only by C.V. Whitley), later began working for his father's business in 1916, and took over as president upon his death in 1924.{{Cite sign |title=In 1916, C.V. Whitley joined his father, R.J. Whitley in the firm, and became its president and General Manager upon his father's death in 1924. |type=Plaque |via=a photograph in the History section of zebulonbuildings.com |location=Zebulon, North Carolina |url=http://zebulonbuildings.com/ |access-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225114523/http://zebulonbuildings.com/ |url-status=dead}} Upon assuming control of the business, C.V. reorganized the broad product range of the supply store towards primarily furniture, as he believed "while furniture styles also change, [it is] nowhere near as quickly as do styles in ladies coats and dresses", as an example of a product he no longer would sell for this reason.{{cite news |title=Just A Country Storekeeper |url=http://zebulonbuildings.com/ |work=The State |via=a newspaper scan in the History section of zebulonbuildings.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |volume=5 |number=9 |pages=1–2, 22 |date=July 31, 1937 |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225114523/http://zebulonbuildings.com/ |url-status=dead}} Likewise, Zebulon Supply Company eventually changed its name to Whitley Furniture Company in 1946 to reflect their new product specialization.{{cite news |title=Eastern North Carolina's Popular Furniture Store Is All Be-Decked Throughout |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-eastern-north-caro/149305745/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=9 |date=November 10, 1946 |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614080258/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-eastern-north-caro/149305745/ |url-status=live}}
A 1937 article by the newspaper The State claimed the galleries were probably "the biggest business enterprise you can find anywhere in the state in a town approximating the town of Zebulon", in contrast to other struggling small-town businesses during the Great Depression. The success of the business at this time was credited to its central location in a crossroads town, its modern product and large floor space, its acceptance of refunds, and other new business practices C.V. picked up while attending furniture trade shows. Notably, the practice of radio advertising on WPTF and newspaper advertisements in Raleigh's News & Observer spread awareness of the business and its seasonal giveaways across Eastern North Carolina. Their second giveaway in 1935 became their most successful, which saw between 7–15 thousand people from across Eastern North Carolina gather in the town of only one thousand at the time to watch the business' ticket drawing, with the top prize being a new automobile. In 1959, C.V. passed on the family business to his daughter Nancy Whitley and her husband Amos Estes, not long before his death in 1966.
= Third and fourth generation ownership =
After taking over in 1959, Whitley and Estes saw continued success with the business. In the store's adverts from this time, Whitley advertised themselves to be "Wake County's largest furniture store"{{cite news |title=Our 50th Anniversary Sale! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-our-50th-anniversa/149305761/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=102 |date=February 14, 1982 |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614075844/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-our-50th-anniversa/149305761/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Beautiful Leather Furniture ... A Lasting Investment for Newlyweds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/gold-leaf-farmer-beautiful-leather-furni/149305775/ |work=Gold Leaf Farmer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Wendell, North Carolina |page=21 |date=June 30, 1983 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614080131/https://www.newspapers.com/article/gold-leaf-farmer-beautiful-leather-furni/149305775/|url-status=live}} and the largest full service furniture store in Eastern North Carolina.{{cite news |title=Whitley Furniture Galleries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-whitney-furniture/149305782/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=47 |date=July 4, 1984 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614073914/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-whitney-furniture/149305782/ |url-status=live}} The two also continued to publicize the business in the media as C.V. had. In the 1982 North Carolina Home and Garden Show, at the time the largest of its kind in the southeast United States, Whitley Galleries decorated twenty rooms for the event alongside other area decorators.{{cite news |title=Home & Garden Show returns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-home-garden-show/149305824/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=124 |date=February 21, 1982 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614074212/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-home-garden-show/149305824/ |url-status=live}} In 1987, Whitley Galleries, alongside WRAL-TV, gave away a room full of furniture valued at $10,000 during a live telecast of the Southern Ideal Home Show.{{cite news |title=WRAL to broadcast live from show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-wral-to-broadcast/149305848/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=211 |date=September 20, 1987 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614074440/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-wral-to-broadcast/149305848/ |url-status=live}}
In 1979, the business once again changed names, this time from Whitley Furniture Company to Whitley Furniture Galleries.{{cite news |title=Correction |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-correction/149305901/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=9 |date=July 24, 1979 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614074918/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-correction/149305901/ |url-status=live}} In 1993, Nancy and Amos retired, passing down the business to their son Charles and his sister Nelle. The business had the largest furniture stock in the Research Triangle until its closing in 2022.
= Closure =
File:Entire Whitley Furniture Galleries complex, Zebulon NC.jpg
On 18 January 2022, the furniture galleries announced their closure after 113 years of operations.{{cite web |last1=Lester |first1=Thomas |title=Whitley Furniture Galleries announces end of run |url=https://www.furnituretoday.com/furniture-retailer/whitley-furniture-galleries-announces-end-of-run/ |publisher=Furniture Today |date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225114523/https://www.furnituretoday.com/furniture-retailer/whitley-furniture-galleries-announces-end-of-run/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Zarcone |first1=Patrick |title=113-year-old Zebulon furniture store to shut down, sell buildings |url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/113-year-old-zebulon-furniture-store-to-shut-down-sell-buildings/ |publisher=WNCN |date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225114522/https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/113-year-old-zebulon-furniture-store-to-shut-down-sell-buildings/ |url-status=live}} Starting on January 20, the business began to liquidate their entire stock. This process continued until at least late February, at which point the remaining product was sold.{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Alexis |title=Family-owned furniture store closing after 113 years |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/02/21/family-owned-furniture-store-closes-after-113-years |publisher=Spectrum News |date=February 21, 2022 |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225114522/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/02/21/family-owned-furniture-store-closes-after-113-years |url-status=live}} According to the owner Charles Whitley Estes, the business' closure was the result of a lack of a fifth generation to take over, as other family members had taken different career paths. Charles had also stated it was "just time to retire" for him, after running the business together with Nelle for about 30 years. At the time of the announcement, Nelle had yet to decide if she also was going to retire from the business field.
At its closure, the furniture galleries spanned across the whole W. Vance St. city block consisting of eight buildings{{efn|The eight building addresses being 101, 113, 117, 121, 125, 135, and 149 W. Vance St. respectively, going down the block}} in downtown Zebulon.{{cite web |title=Retail Buildings For Sale {{!}} Whitley Furniture Galleries Buildings |url=http://zebulonbuildings.com/ |website=zebulonbuildings.com |access-date=23 December 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225114523/http://zebulonbuildings.com/ |url-status=dead}} The buildings covered an area of {{cvt|65463|sqft}} or {{cvt|1.58|acres}}, and were put up for sale at a price of $5,299,000. Tom Liddell, Senior {{abbr|VP|Vice President}} of Planned Furniture Promotions, with whom the business partnered to sell the buildings, commented the building's proximity to Raleigh presented "tremendous re-development opportunity" alongside the galleries' "historical significance".
Product and services
While the business was still the Zebulon Supply Company, their product varied broadly with no specialization. Crops, livestock, groceries, farm machinery, hardware, and furniture were all sold, with some of their bigger products like groceries and furniture having their own departments within the store. After specializing in furniture retailing, however, their inventory reflected the change, with home decor products including dining room and bedroom suites, seating, lamps, mirrors, beds, chests, desks, china cabinets, sideboards, wall systems, and entertainment units all being sold.{{cite news |title=Winter Furniture Sale |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-winter-sale/149305962/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=14 |date=March 17, 1985 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614075335/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-winter-sale/149305962/ |url-status=live}} Product was often sourced from smaller, local companies, but some larger brands including Barcalounger, Bassett Furniture, and La-Z-Boy were also sold.
Some services the business offered included complete interior design and delivery within 100 miles of Zebulon, allowing their product to reach the wider Eastern Carolina market.{{cite news |title=Zebulon Company Offers Frigidaires |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-zebulon-company-of/149305982/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=9 |date=March 9, 1941 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614075542/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-zebulon-company-of/149305982/ |url-status=live}}
Leadership
At the beginning of operations, the business started with only three salesmen.{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Denise |title=Wagon Marks History |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-wagon-marks-histor/149306007/ |work=News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=7 |date=April 10, 2011 |access-date=14 June 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614075740/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-wagon-marks-histor/149306007/ |url-status=live}} The number of employees later grew to where multiple product departments requiring individual managers was needed. These departments existed under Zebulon Supply Company to better manage their larger range of products, but were likely dissolved after their product specialization to furniture. In terms of ownership, four generations of Whitleys took turns as president of the business. The generation of the family, the owner's name, the co-owner's name (if one), and the years they operated the business are displayed in the table below.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Owners of Whitley Furniture Galleries ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Gen|Generation}} ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Owner ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Co-owner ! scope="col" | Starting year ! scope="col" | Ending year |
| scope="row" | 1
| R.J. Whitley ! None | {{Date table sorting|1909}} | {{Date table sorting|1924}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2
| C.V. Whitley ! None | {{Date table sorting|1924}} | {{Date table sorting|1959}} |
| scope="row" | 3
| Nancy Whitley | Amos Estes ({{small|husband}}) | {{Date table sorting|1959}} | {{Date table sorting|1993}} |
| scope="row" | 4
| Charles Whitley Estes | Nelle Carroll ({{small|sister}}) | {{Date table sorting|1993}} | {{Date table sorting|2022}} |
References
= Notelist =
{{Notelist}}
= Citations =
{{Reflist}}
{{coord|35|49|15|N|78|18|46|W|region:US-NC_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:1909 establishments in North Carolina
Category:2022 disestablishments in North Carolina
Category:American companies established in 1909
Category:American companies disestablished in 2022
Category:Defunct retail companies of the United States