Higginsons plan to close Hunter’s Furniture store

Hunter’s Furniture of Colfax is closing. Owners Mary and Lee Higginson have cut prices on new wood furniture, dining tables, leather couches and other furniture.

Mary Higginson, 65, told the Gazette Monday she is closing up shop because she’d like to retire and the economy has been rough on their sales.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” she said, noting the furniture store has been open for about 15 years.

The couple also owns Hunter’s Appliance Center and the Sleep Shop in Colfax, which will remain open and staffed by Lee.

Mary said she didn’t plan on reducing prices any further from her existing sales over the next three months. Negotiating with customers will be on an individual basis, she said.

The historic building in which Hunter’s is housed, the 1893 brick Waite building, is owned by Michael Higginson, son of Mary and Lee.

Michael said he won’t use the vacated space until next year. He has no immediate plans for renting out the space after his parents close the store.

Michael owns his own furniture and flooring store in Pullman which he is expanding. He was not too interested in extending his furniture store to the Colfax space.

“I’ll continue to work on the building and either rent it or do something there. Nothing in the near future,” he said.

The expansive interior of Hunter’s furniture still holds a variety of furniture. Ceiling-length mirrors, room-long cupboard sets, and ornate glass lamps line the walls.

“Our sales are down a little,” Mary said. She believes their sales problem is related to the recession.

She has been running the store six days a week and is ready to move on. She’d like to spend more time with her seven children and 32 grandchildren.

“All of my children live within driving distance,” she noted.

Mary said she didn’t yet know what they will do with any extra merchandise when their three-month sale comes to a close. They haven’t determined an exact closing date.

The Hunter’s Furniture site has been the long-time location of a furniture store. Lou Grimes of Colfax operated at the site for 23 years before shutting down his business. Grimes formerly worked for the late Bob Neill and later operated his own business and rented the building from Neill.