ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Rupp Furniture Closing

Letter Sent To ‘Preferred’ Customers

 

Updated with correction

Rupp Furniture & Flooring Co., a part of the Archbold retail scene since 1908, is closing its doors.

During the Monday, Feb. 3 meeting of Archbold Village Council, Donna Dettling, village administrator, said store officials had, in a letter, asked if a permit would be required for a “going out of business” sale.

Also, some “preferred” customers received a letter announcing the closing and inviting them to a special sale.

“It is with heavy heart that after 112 years of serving the good people of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and beyond with their premier home furnishing needs, we have made the difficult decision to close Rupp Furniture & Flooring Company,” the letter states.

“We have a short window of time to sell off all remaining inventory. Soon we will be closing the doors to Rupp Furniture & Flooring Company and going out of business forever!”

Jason King, who owns the store with his wife, Carrie, confirmed a private letter was sent to preferred customers announcing the sale.

He declined further comment at this time.

Purchased

The Kings, owners of King’s Sleep Shop & Home Furnishing stores in West Unity and Fremont, Ind., purchased Rupp Furniture from the Rupp family in September 2017.

At that time, the Kings said they would retain the Rupp Furniture name and staff.

At the time, the Kings said they were purchasing the Rupp Furniture buildings from the Rupps.

Records from the Fulton County Auditor office show the Rupp Furniture store at 203 North Defiance Street is owned by Willco Investment II, LLC. It has a total of 12,218 square feet of space.

A second showroom building, known locally as the “Vernier-Probeck building” at 107 North Defiance Street, contains a total of 22,745 square feet.

Auditor records show it is owned by MMR Management, LLC. MMR also owns a storage building, with about 2700 square feet, on the 107 North Defiance Street property.

Purchase Agreement

In an interview following the meeting, Dettling said village officials have been working with the operators of the Circle K convenience store, located south of the Vernier-Probeck building, for a possible expansion of the convenience store.

Dettling said there is a purchase agreement  for that building.

Currently, Circle K operators “are doing their due diligence” before finalizing the purchase.

Correction: Donna Dettling, Archbold village administrator, said she was told by Circle K officials that there is a purchase agreement in place for the 107 North Defiance Street building. She said she did not know whom the agreement is with, nor has see seen a copy of the agreement.-posted 3:30 pm Wed., 2.5.19