Furniture store still seeking new Springfield location

Ashley leaving current Springfield site, which will become Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Ashley Furniture still plans to have a store in Springfield but in the short term will move inventory and some staff members to the company’s Beavercreek location, according to the company’s management.

Company officials are still looking for a location for a new Springfield store, after the current location at the Bechtle Crossing Shopping Center is demolished, said Rob Klaben, vice president of marketing and advertising for Morris Furniture Co.

U.S. Properties Group, based in Hilliard, owns the Bechtle Crossing Shopping Center and submitted an amendment to its zoning plan in June. City documents show the zoning proposal included demolishing the Ashley Furniture, Dollar Tree and Famous Footwear locations for the proposed construction of a 40,000 square-foot Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

Staff with the U.S. Properties Group declined comment Thursday, citing a confidentiality agreement. The application also noted the zoning change would allow space for an additional 10,000-square-foot retail store and a 2,500-square-foot retail space.

Ashley Furniture is hosting a closeout sale now, and the remaining inventory will be moved to Beavercreek, Klaben said. The store has eight employees, who will either have the opportunity to work at the Beavercreek location or or other stores in the chain, based on need, he said.

The company has had challenges finding the right location, but is still looking in Springfield, Klaben said.

“We’re actively looking, and we don’t want to make the mistake of moving into the wrong location, so it really just depends on finding the right location to move to,” Klaben said.

The closeout sale ends on Dec. 15, and company officials hope to have everything moved out by the end of next month.

“The sale’s response has been overwhelming, so hopefully we’re out by then, but there is the potential that it could be extended,” Klaben said.

The company is looking for an area with good traffic.

“We really want to be where the shopping is, so our focus has really been around the Bechtle area,” Klaben said.

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