Bob’s Discount Furniture is expected to open at a currently vacant Big Flats location in Consumer Square in the coming months.
Permits have been issued and work is underway to reconstruct the former Top’s Friendly Market building, which closed after an August fire, into a Bob’s Discount Furniture, according to the Big Flats Town Code Enforcement office.
No timeline for the completion of the building upgrades has been identified, according to Big Flats Code officials, so an opening date for the store is still undetermined.
Bob’s Discount Furniture is a nationwide retailer of furniture, mattresses, rugs and home decor with a focus on value.
Jill Koski, vice president of Southern Tier Economic Growth, said from STEG’s perspective as an economic development organization, another business filling the large storefront is great news.
“You don’t want a vacant building with all that retail space,” Koski said. “It doesn’t look good. Plus, this addition creates jobs, and it is another place for consumers to shop. So, it’s good for the area.”
Bob’s Discount Furniture, a New England-based furniture chain founded in 1991, has expanded to about 200 locations in 26 states.
Currently, the closest Bob’s Discount Furniture store is located in Henrietta in suburban Rochester. Most of the New York state stores are located in the New York City area.
A Bob’s Discount Furniture spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Bob’s Discount Furniture opened 20 new stores in 12 states in 2025.
“We are excited to see how these new markets embrace Bob’s low-pressure, no-gimmick approach to furniture shopping,” Ramesh Murthy, Chief Operating Officer at Bob’s Discount Furniture, said in a March 25 release. “Our mission is simple: we believe everyone deserves a home they love. We will continue to look for opportunities in the Southeast and beyond to turn that belief into a reality for customers all across the U.S.”
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Bob’s Discount Furniture expected to open at former Tops in Big Flats
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
