Whitley Furniture Galleries Going Out of Business After 113 Years

Furniture World News Desk on 1/18/2022

Whitley Furniture Galleries, a 113-year-old family-owned and operated retailer, will be going out of business with the retirement of the fourth-generation owners and selling off a city-block of buildings at the heart of downtown Zebulon.

Whitley Furniture Galleries will begin liquidation of all inventory with a public sale starting Thursday, January 20. Whitley has partnered with Planned Furniture Promotions (PFP) to handle the store events and sale of its eight buildings.

Whitley sprawls an entire city block and has become an iconic retailer both for its fashionable, high-end furniture and its century-long history serving Zebulon and surrounding communities. It first opened its doors in 1909 as Zebulon Supply Company, a country general store founded by R.J. (Jeff) Whitley.

“It is overwhelming to think about liquidation of all the merchandise and selling a block of buildings. Having the expertise and support of PFP to manage the entire process and every detail for optimum results provides us invaluable peace of mind,” said Whitley owners Charles Estes and Nelle Carroll.

“With eight buildings in the heart of a great community and the proximity to Raleigh, the Whitley properties present tremendous re-development opportunity with endless possibilities,” said Tom Liddell, PFP senior vice president. “The historical significance and record of success for this retail location speak volumes to their value and potential.”

Details on the real estate are available at www.zebulonbuildings.com.

The going-out-of-business sale will take place at 101 W. Vance St., the state’s only city block of furniture. The total liquidation sale will offer deep discounts on the largest selection of American-made furniture in the Triangle. Some of the many famous brands featured at Whitley are Smith Bros., Gat Creek, Bradington-Young, Hooker, Universal, Bassett, Emerald Craft, Howard Miller, Alder & Tweed, Barcalounger, Dovetail and many more.

About Whitney Furniture Galleries

R.J. Whitley founded Zebulon Supply Co., a general mercantile store, in 1909. His son, C.V. Whitley, joined the business in 1916 and eight years later took over management of the business upon R.J.’s death. In 1959, C.V.’s daughter Nancy and her husband Amos Estes took over the business until their retirement in 1993. Their children, Charles Whitley Estes and Nelle Carroll, are the current owners.