Beloved Oregon Family Business Shuts Its Doors After 123 Years
It's the end of an era in the retail world for sure. One of Oregon's oldest family stores announced they're calling it quits after 123 years of business.
Way back in 1901 in Corvalis, a man named Oliver J. Blackledge moved to town from Iowa. He started a general store for residents in the area and he sold things like "furniture, bedding, rugs, paints, musical instruments, and even provided undertaking services."
Fast-forward to 2024, the Blackledge Furniture store has passed through four generations and now only sells furniture.
The original location was just a few steps away at 334 SW 2nd St. It's now an empty building for sale.
With a place like this, with so much history behind it, it's rather sad the store is going out of business, but the family is retiring, and a new planned facility is set to go up in its place. Landgrabbers have already claimed the area to build some new apartments and a hotel along the riverfront, as reported in the Gazette Times.
All I can think about now is the bright side of this story: THE LIQUIDATION SALES! If you are willing to make the trek to the Willamette Valley, the Blackledge Furniture store will be open until the end of the year.
If you're bummed about Blackledge Furniture closing up shop, don't fret. There are several other furniture stores in the area to go shopping:
Chateau Home Furnishings
Corvallis Furniture
Furniture Exchange
Inkwell Home Store
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