A new furniture store is opening soon in Ames, hoping to fill a retail gap.
Furniture Mart USA is building a 91,000-square-foot facility on the north side of S.E. 5th Street between Target and Walmart.
The combined Furniture Mart and Ashley Furniture store is expected to open in November, according to the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. The facility will be the first large-scale furniture retailer in Ames in 15 years.
The facility will be constructed as a single open, combined space that will carry Ashley, La-Z-Boy, Flexsteel, Holland House and Aspen House Furniture.
The $7 million development is expected to generate $9 to 10 million in annual sales, contribute about $30 million to the local economy and employ around 20 staff members.
Local contractors are advancing site preparation and construction to help keep consumer spending local and fill a longstanding market gap, Eric Smidt, vice president of marketing and communication for the Alliance, told the Tribune.
Ames Regional Alliance recruited Furniture Mart
A 2024 market analysis report identified a $5.7 million opportunity gap for furniture sales in Ames. The market was expected to increase to $13.1 million when expanded to a 20-minute travel radius, including other Story County towns like Nevada, Huxley and Gilbert.
Business backed by five-year tax abatement
In 2024, the Ames City Council approved a five-year tax abatement for the land where Furniture Mart sits.
The city’s five-year schedule for tax abatement in Urban Revitalization Areas includes a 100% tax abatement for the first year; an 80% tax abatement for the second year; a 60% abatement for the third year; a 40% abatement for the fourth year; and a 20% abatement for the fifth year.
The abatement requires the store to be at least 90,000 square feet. The building permit had to be issued in 2025 and the building needed to be complete within 18 months of issuance.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Furniture Mart’s 90,000 sq. foot facility is expected to open soon in Ames. Find out when
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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