How Reid Furniture Co. Started and Grew

This week’s Picturing the Past photograph features Reid Furniture Company and was taken in 1959. The building where Reid’s was located at the time looks different today.  The best clues in the photo are actually small parts of the buildings on either side.  Can you identify where it was located?

Theodore Reid and W.M. Melton formed Reid-Melton Furniture Company in late 1944.  They held their formal opening on Saturday, February 17, 1945.  They carried living room, dining room and bedroom suites, tables, chairs, rugs and appliances.  Products could be purchased on credit with weekly or monthly payment plans.  Mr. Reid, who had worked in the furniture business for many years, managed the store located at 21 East Main St.

The Reid Furniture Company truck in front of the business at 123 W. Main St.

The business quickly outgrew the small store and in 1947 relocated to the Mull Building on the corner of S. Broad and Jordan streets.  Two-and-a-half years later they again moved to a larger store.  It was shortly after this move that Reid purchased Melton’s share of the business and changed the name to Reid Furniture Company.

In December 1960 Reid announced, “With my lease expiring in January, I have decided to close my furniture store at that time.  Between now and then, I am offering the citizens of Brevard and Transylvania County bargains in furniture that are unheard of.  It has been a real pleasure serving at Reid Furniture Company since 1944, and I cordially invite one and all to come by and see our hundreds of close-out bargains.”

Reid opened an office on Caldwell St. where people could make payments on their accounts.  He continued the business in some fashion until retiring in 1965.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.