NC furniture maker resumes production nearly a year after closing with over 500 layoffs

Nearly a year after Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture closed abruptly in North Carolina, furniture production has resumed.Photo byJEFF SINER

Production of upholstered sofas, sectionals, and chairs has resumed almost a year after Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (MG+BW) closed unexpectedly, leaving hundreds unemployed in North Carolina.

The revival is spearheaded by Surya Inc., which acquired MG+BW and restarted operations at the Taylorsville plant in NC\.

Resumption of Operations:

• MG+BW furniture production began with 38 employees at the Taylorsville plant.
• Operations will expand, rehiring many former employees as production scales up.

Behind MG+BW Closure

MG+BW was unable to secure financing to continue operations as the furniture industry has had “significant challenges,” then company CEO Chris Moye said last year in WARN notices filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Furniture Industry Struggles

MG+BW isn’t alone in its struggles as the furniture industry grapples with changing consumer demand.

Just last week, Florida-based retailer Badcock Home Furniture & More announced on its social media sites that it is closing all of its 380 stores in eight Southeastern states, including eight stores in the Charlotte area.

Last August, Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries Inc. said it was ceasing operations with nearly 900 job losses.

And in 2022, Ashley Furniture Furniture Industries permanently closed its Statesville facility, resulting in 111 layoffs, when the Wisconsin-based company consolidated operations.