Half of all businesses fail within the first five years, and even more, are gone within 10 years, so making it to 90 years is definitely an event to celebrate.
So Weinberger’s Furniture, a local family-owned business, is celebrating its 90th anniversary with the help of its customers. The company had a ribbon cutting and party on Thursday, Sept. 15. Karly Weinberger said they have also offered sales throughout much of this year.
“Right now, we’re doing an anniversary sale,” she said. “Customers pay 90 percent of the sale price.”
That sale will continue until the middle of October.
The store was founded in downtown Augusta by Abe and Hannah Fogel in 1932, according to Karly Weinberger, the couple’s great-granddaughter who now serves as its vice president. Her father, Mark, is the company’s president.
Originally called Augusta Furniture Market, it was located on Broad Street until moving to Washington Road in the 1980’s. That’s also when they changed the business name.
Weinberger’s now has three locations: showrooms in Augusta and Greensboro, as well as an outlet in Augusta. It sells various types of home furniture, including sofas, bookcases, tables, and beds. In 2008, the company added Weinberger’s Business Interiors, a division that provides furniture and design solutions for businesses.
They have also partnered with United Way of the CSRA to furnish a room, which will be used to combat homelessness, at the nonprofit’s facility.
“The room should be up and ready in about three weeks,” Weinberger said.
As a fourth-generation employee, she has been responsible for upgrading the business’s technology, none of which was available in 1932. For example, Weinberger has revamped the company’s website and plans to add a new shopping cart.
“We have also focused on reviews and online presence,” she said.
Weinberger said the biggest change the company has experienced over the last 90 years is how people shop for furniture. While some still prefer to shop in the store, others would rather choose their items online and have them delivered.
She looks forward to witnessing other changes in the future, but for now, she’s excited about what the business has already done.
“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Weinberger said. “There are very few companies that have made it this long and even fewer that are still in the same family.”
For more information, visit weinbergersfurniture.com.
