After a long history in the Atlanta area and throughout the south, conservatively run Havertys has been a central player in furniture retailing and a survivor of competition and economic downturns.

Now with a challenging retailing climate and a consumer preference for more fashionable merchandising presentation, Havertys finds that the image of mid-price points and an admirable customer service reputation are not enough to hold up sales volume and resulting profits. Each recent quarter has seen same store sales falling and the bottom line now bleeding cash.

With a prolonged economic downturn it is just a matter of time for Havertys management to start closing underperforming units. The situation in truth may be that just about every unit is underperforming and closing stores may just prolong the agony of going out of business. Retailing in the last decade has become very cruel to just about every retailer who prospered during the mid twentieth century and has now seen such rapid challenges in the twentyfirst.

So many nameplates have now entered the history books of retailing; just how long will it be for the lights to dim on Havertys?