Carson City Winans closing

Sometimes less is more. Winans Furniture in Carson City will close its doors in the next 30 to 90 days, a move designed to improve efficiency and increase its inventory in the remaining Reno and Minden show rooms, said owner Andrew Winans.

The company is not changing its line of furniture, but broadening its selection within each category. The move will mean a 30- to 40-minute drive for Carson City customers, but he believes the added selection will be worth the trip, Winans said.

"We moved our Reno store to a larger location in late August then came to the conclusion that we don't need all three stores," he said. "We're looking forward to being positioned to better serve Carson City. Our daily deliveries will continue and, in the end, we'll have a better selection."

The savings from the closure will go toward the purchase of a warehouse. Several Reno sites have been identified but the final selection has not been made, he said.

"If you look at most of the retailers in this market, they have split the market into two segments. One store serves South Lake Tahoe, Minden, Dayton and Carson City. The other serves Reno, Washoe County and North Lake Tahoe," he said. "We want to secure a larger warehouse so we'll have more product available and ready to deliver."

The company wants to expand its Reno store to 70,000 square feet and its Minden store to 30,000 square feet, giving it the same retail space the three stores have now.

All employees will be transferred to other showrooms in anticipation of a rise in sales, Winans said.

A Northern Nevada company since 1965, Winans purchased its Carson City business from Jim Robertson in 1995.

A Carson City resident, Robertson is a member of the Robertson Trust, the entity that owns the building and the mall. He said he's optimistic about finding a new tenant and isn't worried about Winans' departure.

Joe McCarthy, Carson City's development/redevelopment manager, agreed.

"With the new hospital, the freeway and new lodging coming online in North Carson City, there's a lot of positive energy in the area," he said.

At 3777 N. Carson St., Winans is holding a clearance sale. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 882-1331.

Contact Susie Vasquez at svasquez@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.