Harris Family Furniture to close Laconia showroom after 50 years

LACONIA — Harris Family Furniture is closing their Laconia showroom after 50 years. The final day of operation will be Sunday, Aug. 31, or until all furniture stock is sold. The Harris family addressed the closing in a joint statement.

“This decision was not made lightly,” the statement read. “We’re deeply grateful to the Lakes Region community for their loyalty and support over the last 50 years. As we look to the future, we’re focusing on the continued development of our Signature Stores and offering the best possible experience for today’s furniture shopper.”

Harris Family Furniture also has locations in Plymouth, Concord and Chichester. Harris Family Furniture has been in business since 1965.

Starting Sunday, July 27, a discount of 40% off the lowest marked price of furniture will be available for the final weeks of operation. Clearance items will be available while they last.

Owner Joanne Harris explained a couple of reasons why the Laconia location is closing. First, the building, built in 1900, has been difficult to upkeep.

Another reason is that company President Bill Harris, Joanne’s husband, died in March 2023, and manager Mark Morin died this year. This significant loss of personnel made it difficult for the family to continue operations, especially in Laconia.

“I'm very sad. It's been a cool building, and it's been very, very profitable,” Joanne said. “It's just that I can't really do it without my husband.”

The property, located at 460 Union Ave., is in the process of being sold to Irwin Automotive Group. A demolition permit submitted by Peter Irwin, who manages Irwin Hyundai on the adjacent property, was submitted to the city Heritage Commission for approval. It is not clear what Irwin Automotive Group staff intend to use 460 Union for, but talks of a parking lot were brought up at a Heritage Commission meeting on July 9 to discuss the permit.

“Nothing has been defined on what’s going to go in there. Yet, all the Heritage Commission determines is whether or not to demo, and not to approve or disapprove” of the new use, city Code Enforcement Director Joseph Gray said.

Irwin Automotive Group represents did not respond to requests for comment.

Heritage Commission Chair Marjory Wilkinson questioned the use of the property.

“I would have a question about what the abutters think of this,” she said. “Do they want a parking lot beside their house?”

The adjacent properties are private residences.

Heritage Commission members are considering whether they will approve the demolition permit. Such a permit only goes to the Heritage Commission if a building meets criteria to be a significant structure. This includes qualities which would meet national or state criteria for designating a historical, cultural or architectural landmark, has an unusual or uncommon design, texture or materials that are not easily reproducible, or the retention of the building will preserve and protect a historic place of interest.

If it meets that criteria, any structure 50 years or older and 700 square feet or larger must be reviewed by the commission. No permit for demolition can be issued until after the commission’s decision. Each building requires a separate application. If approved by the commission, the demolition permit goes to the planning board for a final decision.

At the July 9 meeting, the Heritage Commission members explained the building was built in 1900, became Wayside Tower Furniture Store in 1954, then Harris Family Furniture in 1975. No other information was known at the time. To give time for more research, the approval of the permit was tabled until the next meeting, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Members of the Heritage Commission toured Harris Family Furniture on July 14, to observe its historical features, including a Victorian stairwell, and see damage in the building.

“The Heritage Commission received a demolition request that prompted the commission members to do a site visit to see if historical architecture features related to the early 1900s still exist in and outside of the building,” Wilkinson wrote in a text message. “We also viewed its landscape. We took photos during our tour.”

Wilkinson said a process like this is important.

“Our goal is to bring awareness to the community of potential significant historical places in Laconia that may be worthy of preservation,” she said. “If demolition is the only goal of an owner, then what historical features might be salvaged after a demolition permit is approved.”