Wholesale Furniture Closing Its Doors After 46 Years

After 46 years of selling furniture to families across the Upper Cumberland, Gail Gillespie is closing her Wholesale Furniture store.

She said it’s been a labor of love.

The doors are expected to close by October or until the inventory runs out. Gillespie said she has sold over half the store’s inventory the past two weeks. The store is currently hosting a retirement sale.

Some employees have stayed with her for some 30 years. Gillespie said they want to call it quits and enjoy life while they still can.

Gillespie’s mother opened the store in 1974 in Cookeville’s old Henley building on the West Side. Gillespie took over the business in 1980 with business partner Jack Bradley. The 5,000 square foot facility wasn’t large enough for the growing business, so inventory was moved to a 17,000 square foot show room on Willow Avenue, and a 22,000 square foot warehouse.

Several customers are sad the business is closing, Gillespie said. She said she has sold furniture to four generations in some families.