Mon 02/19/2024 Page: Z6
American Home opens modern location
Customers can shop a wide range of ‘desert modern’ furniture styles exclusive to the Albuquerque area
BY ROZANNA M. MARTINEZ JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
American Home Furniture & Mattress is freshening things up with a modern location.
The new flagship store is located at Carlisle and Indian School Road NE next to the new Whole Foods Market that is opening on Thursday. American Home had a soft opening on Feb. 16 and will celebrate a grand opening on Feb. 22 with giveaways and a Presidents’ Day sale.
American Home was previously located on Carlisle near Menaul NE for more than 60 years.
“(It is) the most exciting center to open in Albuquerque in years and we wanted to be a part of it,” Jack Freed, marketing manager and senior buyer at American Home, said of the new location. “... And it is also a chance to refresh the company. We’ve been around 88 years so it was time to upgrade and freshen things up.”
The new spot, 2100 Carlisle Blvd. NE, moved into the former Kmart. The space was gutted and American Home brought in modern light fixtures and installed floor-to-ceiling windows at its storefront to brighten up the interior. American Home kept the flooring that Kmart
customers once walked on. The flooring was rejuvenated to a sparkling finish.
American Home’s new digs are significantly smaller than its previous location. However, its floorplan creates a more inviting space for customers, said Kevin Clements, the senior buyer at American home.
“It’s more furniture friendly,” he said. “It actually allowed us to get more in smaller spaces because the old store had nooks and curves in different areas that did not allow us to get product in there. Here, I’ve actually gained space to show more product. Just the footprint makes more sense.”
The old store featured three levels with a circular floorplan.
“This will be a much better customer experience because we can actually see the entire store so customers aren’t getting lost in here,” Freed said of the new showroom.
Buyers for the furniture store were tasked with finding inventory that would be exclusive and in demand in the greater Albuquerque area.
“There is a whole range of product here,” Clements said. “(We were) definitely looking for the modern look, more contemporary styles. Here you are finding products you won’t find anywhere else in Albuquerque. That’s what they challenged us to do, is to find stuff that you can’t find anywhere else. ... And we’ve done that and they’re affordable prices.”
The styles and selections are in
American Home Furniture & Mattress in Albuquerque.
American Home Furniture & Mattress new showroom at 2100 Carlisle NE. JON AUSTRIA
/JOURNAL
sync with the area.
“We’re really thrilled about the things we have here,” Clements said. “We still have some staples, the Southwest, the traditionals, but a really modernized look. We termed it ‘desert modern.’” American Home offers furnishings for every room.
Dining tables come in a variety of styles and feature a plethora of table top options including solid stone, copper, glass and wood.
“One of my favorites is what we call our mix and match dining program,” Clements said. “You take whatever table you want with whatever chair (or stool) you want and make it yours. It’s a great program. We’ve been doing it for a little while. It just shows so much better here. I’m thrilled to see how this looks.”
American Home’s outlet and clearance center will remain open at 801 Comanche NE. The company also has stores in Farmington and Santa Fe.
“It has its own products,” Clements said of the Albuquerque outlet store. “I would call it more mainstream, a little more traditional looks.
Mainstream products for a lot of people.”
American Home Furniture & Mattress sales associates participate in a La-Z-Boy demonstration at their new location in Albuquerque. JON AUSTRIA
/ JOURNAL
Contractors and employees work on setting up the new American Home Furniture & Mattress location in Albuquerque. The store had a soft opening last week and will hold a grand opening on Thursday.
The new American Home Furniture & Mattress in Albuquerque, which will hold a grand opening on Thursday.
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