Master Design Leases 50,000 Sq. Ft. Space In High Point

Furniture World Magazine

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) announced that Master Design Furniture (MDI) will be the new anchor tenant at its Hamilton Market building in High Point, N.C. A long-time exhibitor at MMPI’s Plaza Suites building, Master Design’s expansion and relocation to the free-standing Hamilton Market building reinforces the importance of High Point as the epicenter of the home furnishings industry. “The infrastructure of the furniture industry is in High Point – from furniture designers and fabrics to trade publications and logistics partners,” said Chester Lee, President of Master Design Furniture. “We believe there is no better place to make a strong, long-term commitment to the growth and opportunities of the home furnishings industry than right here in North Carolina.” Master Design’s new showroom will occupy all of the 2nd Floor and lobby space in Hamilton Market, located at 101 N. Hamilton Street, between Broad Street and Kivett Drive in downtown High Point. The new showroom will be open in time for the fall International Home Furnishings Market that will run from Monday, Oct. 16 – Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. Master Design Furniture relocated its sales and marketing offices to High Point earlier this month and recently announced plans to build a new distribution center in the community as well. “We’re especially excited that our new, expanded showroom in Hamilton Market will allow us to display our full lines of bedroom, dining room and entertainment furnishings in one great location,” said Joe Elmore, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development for Master Design Furniture. “With our new showroom, offices and new distribution center in the greater High Point community, we are putting a punctuation mark on the importance of High Point.” “Master Design’s commitment to Hamilton Market and our community is further evidence of the strength and leadership of High Point in the international home furnishings industry,” said Tom Mitchell, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. in High Point. “We appreciate their executive-level involvement and the assistance of Craven Commercial Properties in securing this expanded showroom arrangement with Master Design Furniture at Hamilton Market.” Master Design Furniture (MDI) focuses on formal and casual dining, formal and promotional bedrooms, table products and entertainment furnishings. The company's clients include the Top 100 retailers across the US and Canada. Test Rite Group acquired Master Design Inc. in March 2002, establishing a new presence for Test Rite, in the home furnishings industry. Master Design was established in 1990 as the marketing arm for a major Taiwan-based furniture manufacturer that was focused on the United States market. Following its acquisition by Test Rite, MDI has expanded beyond the U.S. and now sells into Canada and Europe. Hamilton Market is located in the Hamilton-Wrenn district of High Point, North Carolina. With more than 100,000 square feet of permanent showrooms, Hamilton Market showcases high-quality home furnishings. Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington, D.C. Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.