New face for Main Street Furniture

NORWAY — No, Main Street Furniture and Appliance, formerly known as Western Auto of Norway, is not expanding its storefront out onto the sidewalk. 

Many people have asked that question in the last week, but the plywood frame jutting from the front of the store is only a temporary structure, meant to keep contractors out of the elements.  By late February, when the covering comes down, the store will have an all-new, $75,000 façade — the first significant renovation done to the building at 313 Main Street since it went up in the mid-1950s.

“All of the glass is coming out, so it’s also meant to help keep us warm inside,” said owner Chris Shorey, about the addition which has raised so many eyebrows.  “We know it’s inconvenient for people walking up and down the street, but it’s a necessary evil to the end, right now.  After all, we are essentially replacing the entire storefront.”

One other key point to keep in mind — despite its foreboding appearance, the family-owned store is still open.

Main Street's renovation project is funded, in part, by a $20,000 façade grant from the town of Norway.  The grant program uses money from a state community development block grant administered by the Western Maine Economic Development Council. 

The Shorey family, who are paying for the balance of the work out of pocket, say it's a demonstration of their belief in a healthy, vibrant business community on Main Street.

“We’re committed to Main Street,” says Shorey.  “We’re committed to Norway and we are committed to the people of the Oxford Hills.  We wanted to put our best face forward and, literally, that’s what we are doing with this renovation.”

Long an “anchor store” on Main Street, Western Auto dealt in vehicle parts when it was founded by the Schiavi family more than 50 years ago — hence the name.  Frank Shorey was brought in to manage the store and, liking what he saw, he eventually bought in.  Chris, who took over day-today management in February, started out as chief floor sweeper for his dad in 1978.

With Chris’ ascension came a new name, meant to represent the company’s “small-town business feel.”  As Main Street Furniture and Appliance, the Shoreys jettisoned their line of hardware products, as well as a lawn and garden section.

“We had to do it in order to be a viable business five to 10 years from now,” explains Chris.  “Over the years, it became less and less profitable for a retailer our size to be in that business.  Personally, it was a hard decision, but financially a very easy one.”

The change was not made in haste.  A new business model was prepared and careful planning went into the transition.  Still, Chris says he and his dad have been flabbergasted by the results.

“It’s far exceeded our expectations,” he said.  “The community has really supported us through this change.  For the first time in our company’s history, furniture sales are going to exceed our appliance sales.”

And this is despite the fact that the Shoreys have just brought in their seventh truckload of GE factory seconds.  The company deals in new appliances, of course, but with the market in mind, and thanks to new partnerships available since the change in focus, the Shoreys have stocked up on units that are otherwise new except for small dents and scratches.

“It’s been working out great for the people around here,” says Shorey.  “We are able to buy it inexpensively and we are able to pass it on to the customer inexpensively.  To get a great price for just a little cosmetic damage, a lot of people are able to live with that.”

With three floors of furniture to choose from, Main Street may well be the largest retailer in the Oxford Hills, apart from the big box stores.  Still, Chris says everyone involved works hard to maintain that hometown service that only a small, family-run business can provide.

Although the renovation includes practical aspects, such as new, energy efficient display windows, some thought also went into how the project could benefit the neighborhood.  The end result will be a community bulletin board built into the brick face of the storefront.

“We’ve also got a beautiful new sign that’s coming out,” said Shorey.  “We can’t wait to see it.  We think it will add not only to the building, but to the street.”

The overall attractiveness of Main Street was factored into the design of Portland architects Holt & Lachman, says Shorey.  Although some have bemoaned the recent loss of potential retail space to Norway Savings Bank’s operations center, Shorey remains optimistic about that project, as well as his own.

“We’re excited about what the bank's doing,” he said.  “We’ve heard some people say it should be retail, but as far as we’re concerned, if it’s an attractive building and it’s occupied, we’re happy.  The more attractive we can make our Main Street, the more people are going to come down and look around.   

“To look blighted, like it has been, does not attract customers to my store or to any other store on Main Street,” he added.