Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
There are furniture threads on the forum. People comment on High Point in those threads. I usually post to look at S&G and Biggerstaff in Gastonia. The one person who took my advice was happy.
How is High Point for furniture? Any good places left? I'll have to check out West Franklin on my next trip...West. Thanks.
Since the remaining casegoods factories are essentially "assembly plants" rather than manufacturing plants, there really are no furniture bargains in the state any longer - at least, not with upscale furniture being sold at outlet prices. The plants are assembling imported inventory from other countries for the most part.
There are a few "outlets" on 321N, outside of Hickory and into the Granite Falls area.
Hickory is transforming itself with new businesses and in many cases - retirees moving into the area. Lenoir-Rhyne continues to be one of the central attractions to the city. The foreclosure market is being bought up at a slower rate than in some other cities in the state, but inventory is being reduced gradually. Judging the city on what you saw at the edges of town would be depressing, I agree, but those closed factories are not what should define Catawba County and Hickory, specifically.
The majority of people in this country are buying furniture these days at Ikea and other big chains of that sort.
The days of upscale American-made furniture are basically over, especially in regard to the "outlet" market.
It's my understanding that the Cleveland County mills followed with Gaston County.
Makes sense.
Some of the timber that holds my house together was milled from a steam saw mill here in Gaston. Yup, steam, not gas/electric. It's an old, very special house.
Back then you were either working in the textile mills or out cutting (or hauling wood to be cut). Lot of guys would start their own saw mills, cutting wood for a living. The guys who got really good at it would handle it all - they would come to your land, pay you and cut the wood, haul it out, and mill it into planks for profit etc
I love old stuff/stories. Find some older fellas who grew up here. They are a wealth of knowledge
Last edited by Sloante74; 07-07-2014 at 11:54 AM..
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,670,113 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloante74
Makes sense.
Some of the timber foundation that holds my house together was milled from a steam saw mill here in Gaston. Yup, steam, not gas/electric. It's an old, very special house.
Back then you were either working in the textile mills or out cutting (or hauling wood to be cut). Lot of guys would start their own saw mills, cutting wood for a living. The guys who got really good at it would handle it all - they would come to your land, pay you and cut the wood, haul it out, and mill it into planks for profit etc
I love old stuff/stories.
Me too. I'm lucky. I've run into natives who knew & liked mill workers from Philly & furniture workers from Grand Rapids (where I spent most of my childhood). They've told me a fair amount about the area.
I'm glad that Gastonia & Kings Mountain are trying to keep as much of the old as possible.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,670,113 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821
Since the remaining casegoods factories are essentially "assembly plants" rather than manufacturing plants, there really are no furniture bargains in the state any longer - at least, not with upscale furniture being sold at outlet prices. The plants are assembling imported inventory from other countries for the most part.
There are a few "outlets" on 321N, outside of Hickory and into the Granite Falls area.
Hickory is transforming itself with new businesses and in many cases - retirees moving into the area. Lenoir-Rhyne continues to be one of the central attractions to the city. The foreclosure market is being bought up at a slower rate than in some other cities in the state, but inventory is being reduced gradually. Judging the city on what you saw at the edges of town would be depressing, I agree, but those closed factories are not what should define Catawba County and Hickory, specifically.
The majority of people in this country are buying furniture these days at Ikea and other big chains of that sort.
The days of upscale American-made furniture are basically over, especially in regard to the "outlet" market.
Ani, when I go to Hickory, I take 321 to NC10 to Robinson Rd, passing the Catawba County hospice on Robinson Rd. It's a nice drive & I even pass 2 mcmansions (which look out of place) & a turf farm along the way. Once I went up to another road to get to 321 in Hickory. It wasn't fancy nor was it dismal. I'm glad that you can speak for the area because I can not.
It amazes me how many people move (and live) here and yet know, absolutely nothing about how the area was formed, where it comes from, and the people who made it etc. They do not even care to learn..
"I don't care much about the history of where I am going to live or where its heading. I just want to be 30 minutes from work and have good schools for my kids"
And then they wonder and complain why 12000 spec homes, strip malls, school issues, massive traffic all cultivates into their areas.
lol
It amazes me how many people move (and live) here and yet know, absolutely nothing about how the area was formed, where it comes from, and the people who made it etc. They do not even care to learn..
"I don't care much about the history of where I am going to live or where its heading. I just want to be 30 minutes from work and have good schools for my kids"
And then they wonder and complain why 12000 spec homes, strip malls, school issues, massive traffic all cultivates into their areas.
lol
I am with you, SLOANTE -- the history of whatever area I choose to live in is so important in understanding everything from taxes to quality of education to future potential in the job market.
It also will give insight into why people think the way they do (and vote as they do!)
Ani, when I go to Hickory, I take 321 to NC10 to Robinson Rd, passing the Catawba County hospice on Robinson Rd. It's a nice drive & I even pass 2 mcmansions (which look out of place) & a turf farm along the way. Once I went up to another road to get to 321 in Hickory. It wasn't fancy nor was it dismal. I'm glad that you can speak for the area because I can not.
There is old money in Catawba County and more trustafarians than folks would guess in Hickory. And there are thousands of families that will probably never recover from the loss of high paying jobs (such as upholsterers). However, folks are resourceful and many natives (who worked in furniture and textile industries) were land owners, had farms or their parents did . . . so they were not "wiped out" even when the industries left. For those who relied totally on a manufacturing job for their livelihood, it has been a tougher situation. Many younger workers have long since retrained for other careers. The region has several very good community colleges, including CVCC and CPCC.
Hickory residents are innovative . . . jobs and businesses are coming into the region.
This PDF has a lot of interesting info, including a startling statistic: Hickory lost 25% of its workforce between 2000 and 2012. Yet, they are rebuilding.
There are furniture threads on the forum. People comment on High Point in those threads. I usually post to look at S&G and Biggerstaff in Gastonia. The one person who took my advice was happy.
I believe there is Grindstaff's in Forest City, or is it Shelby? Very nice store; hope they are still going strong. Haverty's bailed out; now they have their "name brand" furniture, no more of the nice popular brands which is a shame. Haverty's is not only in NC though. I found one in Punta Gorda FL, but they cannot compete with Bacon's down there. Awesome store.
You can't find the good brands much anymore; Drexel has gone poof; Thomasville, Ethan Allen, are probably hanging on by a thread.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,670,113 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloante74
Yup.
It amazes me how many people move (and live) here and yet know, absolutely nothing about how the area was formed, where it comes from, and the people who made it etc. They do not even care to learn..
"I don't care much about the history of where I am going to live or where its heading. I just want to be 30 minutes from work and have good schools for my kids"
And then they wonder and complain why 12000 spec homes, strip malls, school issues, massive traffic all cultivates into their areas.
lol
ROFLMAO! I know, I know. . . I want to know the history but, sadly, most do not. I find that many natives out here knew & liked the displaced furniture & mill workers. They were co-workers & neighbors. one woman spoke fondly of a certain Midwestern dish that a neighbor made. I gave her the recipe.
It will all work out in the long-run out here. I know it will. Philly has finally started to turn the corner & that was with decades of no help. With the exception of 2 people who clearly don't understand, people who I talk to are hoping & praying for the casino.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
