New Roomful Express Store Planned For Century Square

Furniture World Magazine

What’s old is new again thanks to aggressive building construction by Roomful Express Furniture. Just five months after renovating the old Ames department store located in Monroeville Plaza on Business Rt. 22, the former Phar- Mor pharmacy at Century Square is undergoing a $1 million-plus makeover that will transform it into a new 65,000 sq. ft. Roomful Express store by June. The new, much larger store will replace a current location along Rt. 51 in Pleasant Hills, according to Jack McGowan, Roomful Express CEO. “The West Mifflin location will almost double the size of our existing store in the area. We’ll now be able to offer our South Hills customers an expanded selection of furniture, bedding and accessories in a comfortable and open ‘shop-by-the-roomful’ environment that is our trademark,” said McGowan. The complete renovation, both inside and out, is again being designed by Connie Post – president of The Connie Post Companies retail space design firm – who will use the same design elements incorporated into the last three new construction projects. Since September 2002, Ms. Post has overseen the design of new stores that opened near Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca, The Pointe at North Fayette and Monroeville Plaza. Such commitment to growth, wider selection and innovative design has seen Roomful Express add 200 new jobs and double its sales in the last four years – with sales for 2004 projected to top $72 million. An estimated 12 new jobs will be created at the new store, in addition to 14 employees who will be transferred from the Pleasant Hills location. An additional 10-12 support staff are also being hired to fill positions at the Company’s Lawrenceville headquarters and distribution center. “Century Square will provide our customers with easier access and much more shopping convenience,” McGowan added. “In addition to our expanded product selection, the same customer amenities found in our other new locations will be a part of the West Mifflin store.” A common theme evident in the design of each of the stores is how customers are made to feel comfortable in spaces created to exude a comfortable, home-like appeal. Working fireplaces are incorporated into ‘lifestyle pods’ made up of five or six room settings – each patterned after different interior design styles from traditional and retro to contemporary, mission and colonial oak. Ample space is also allotted to colorful youth rooms, a small office/home office section, recliners situated near a media center, and even a hospitality area where customers can relax with a refreshment, while watching their children nearby in the play area complete with toys and television. The Roomful Express West Mifflin store will also carry the exclusive Connie Post decorative accessory packages that include wall décor, lighting, floral arrangements, tabletop and area rugs all designed by Ms. Post to complement each of the total roomful concepts. “The West Mifflin store will enable us to introduce even more furniture shoppers to the Roomful Express furniture-by-the-room concept,” said Michael Kuhn, president and owner of Roomful Express Furniture. “We’ve taken the guesswork out of home decorating by giving customers a stress-free, no-hassle experience that already combines furnishings and accessories in an easy and comfortable shopping setting – and all in professionally coordinated color and design selections.” Roomful Express Furniture (www.roomfulexpress.com) is a family owned company founded in Pittsburgh in 1958. The Company currently employs 355 and operates 12 locations in the Pittsburgh, Johnstown. Pa. and Wheeling, W.Va. market areas. Projected sales for 2004 are estimated to be $72 million.