Eisenbergs' Fine Furniture closing after 97 years in Calgary

A Calgary furniture store is closing after 97 years in business, citing no end in sight to the downturn in theeconomy.

StanEisenberg plans to closeEisenbergs' Fine Furnitureby the spring of 2017, a slow closing meant to ensure staff, customers and suppliers are looked after.

"Things are tough in Calgary, no big secrets there," he told CBC News.

"Retail is tough and we just don't see it turning around for a while for a long while. And if we saw that there was a light at the end of the tunnel within a reasonable time frame, well, we wouldn't be doing this right now."

Originally called the Alberta Furniture Store, his business began across the street from the current location in Bridgeland in1919. Eisenberg's grandfather bought it in 1953 and moved to the current location in 1991.

Eisenberggrew up in the store and has worked full-time at the family-owned business for 25 years. He has long-term employees who he says are upset about losing a job and a family of co-workers.

Since they own the building, there's no rush to leave and time to think about what comes next, he said.

"Maybe,who knows, a few years from nowthere might be anotherEisenbergs', but for now we have to deal with what's in front of us, and that's Calgary in 2016."

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