COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – Whit-Ash furniture store is officially closing its doors after 52 years, with the entire building foregoing a complete liquidation that began Thursday.
Whitney and Gerald Black, both brothers and decorated veterans of the US Navy, started a waterbed business in the late 1960s. After numerous successful sales, the couple decided to expand their business to furniture. They have been in this building for 40 years.
This historic building in the heart of Vista opened in 1905 as the Murray Drug Company, one of the leading drugstores in the Carolinas.
Whitney said purchasing the building has been one of the company’s biggest blessings.
“My dad told me, ‘Son, you can do anything you want, but you have to want it,'” Whitney said.
Whitney, who has over 52 years under his belt, tells WIS News that conversations need to be had about Whit-Ash’s future. After speaking with advisers, the brothers decided it was time to close the store. Whitney said the hard work was worth it, but they are both looking forward to retirement.
“We’ve tried to take care of our customers as best as we can,” Whitney said. “It’s just been a great 52 years and a lot of work. You can’t just say you own a business and sit at home and have money sent to you, you can’t do that.”
Whitney said he always knew Gervais Street would grow and become a focal point of Columbia.
“Outside our front door you can see the state capital and I thought this was the most central location, the Columbia metropolitan area. I always thought it would flourish there, but I didn’t think it would take 20 years,” he said. “Now it’s pretty full and it’s a nice place to have a business.”
The three-story building is filled with couches, lamps, desks, kitchen tables, mattresses and more. The duo says there have been a handful of interested buyers, but nothing is concrete yet. Whitney said they will continue to stay open until every piece of furniture is sold.
As for its value, John Sherrer, Historic Columbia’s director of preservation, says the building has a long history,
“From a historic preservation perspective, this is a gem of a property. Given its history and architectural potential, it could be an impactful redevelopment project with historic tax credits,” he said.
“Because the building is considered a contributing property in the West Gervais Street Historic District of the National Register of Historic Places, it could benefit from a Bailey Bill tax abatement, which provides a wonderful financial incentive for the rehabilitation of the property,” Sherrer said.
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