HANOVER TWP. — Noble Furniture is closing its doors after 73 years in business.
It's the last furniture store in the Hanover Twp. and Nanticoke areas and one of the last independently owned furniture stores in Luzerne County.
The furniture store at 825 E. Main St. is temporarily closed but it will reopen 10 a.m. Wednesday for a going out of business sale, said Scott Elinsky, who owns the store with his parents Joe and Jeanne Elinsky.
He said sales have been declining for years but the coronavirus shutdown in March was the last straw.
Business started to drop during the 2008 recession and Noble Furniture, which sells American-made furniture, has struggled to compete with big box stores, he said.
"It's just so tough for the smaller guy these days," Elinsky said.
Noble Furniture reopened June 1 after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered non-essential businesses shut down in March to slow the spread of COVID-19 and that included furniture stores.
The first couple weeks after reopening were busy with customers "eager to get out" but then sales hit a lull again, Elinksy said. Furniture will be marked down starting at 30%, he said.
Noble Furniture features a showroom with dining sets, sofas, recliners, rockers, bedroom sets, mattresses, television sets and solid wood furniture.
The business was located on East Main Street in Hanover Twp. since 1974 but it was formerly on Noble Street in Nanticoke. Elinsky's late grandparents, Joseph and Esther Elinsky, started the business.
It was the last of a slew of furniture stores to close in the area. About 50 years ago, eight furniture stores were located in Nanticoke but Bartuska's Furniture was the last one in the city and that closed in 2012 after 78 years in business.
Elinsky said customers throughout the area formerly purchased higher quality cherry, oak and maple furniture to grace their homes In recent years, he said people have become more interested in buying lower priced furniture and that took a toll on business.
"People want to buy cheaper stuff and they're not as concerned about quality," he said. "We've been seeing that trend for the last 15 to 18 years."
Hanover Twp. Manager Sam Guesto said it's unfortunate that the township will lose the landmark furniture store.
"It is unfortunate to lose any business during this unprecedented time but one like Noble Furniture after 73 years in business is particularly disheartening," Guesto said.
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