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ROMEOVILLE – More than 100 people turned out Thursday morning for the ribbon-cutting at a new, one-of-a-kind Ashley Furniture store in Romeoville.
Ashley Furniture moved into one of its largest facilities at 2045 Crossroads Parkway in January and has operated retail for the past month.
The location is unique because it is the company’s first facility that combines retail, distribution and administrative offices in the same building.
“We felt that this location in Romeoville is perfect,” said Patrick Brown, division vice president for Ashley Furniture, adding that the site has easy access to Interstate 55 and about 120,000 cars pass by each day.
On hand for the ribbon-cutting were Brown, Romeoville Mayor John Noak, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, members of the Tri County Special Recreation Association, staff from Ashley Furniture and the village, and other supporters.
The 454,525-square-foot warehouse has a two-floor, 60,000-square-foot retail space, 14,000 square feet of administrative space and more than 380,000 square feet of space for distribution. It also includes 254 parking spaces.
The facility serves 18 stores in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, and is the regional headquarters for the Chicago area. It created more than 150 jobs in Romeoville.
Noak said the facility is the first full-fledged furniture outlet store in the village, noting that shoppers will have the chance to purchase and receive furniture on-site or through delivery.
“Ashley Furniture is bringing a large number of retail, distribution and office jobs,” Noak said. “This is a value-add to the village with such a high-quality name.”
Noak said the amount of sales tax revenue the Ashley Furniture development would generate for the village wasn’t known because the combined operations concept was new for the company. But he welcomed any sales revenue because the site wasn’t originally intended to generate any sales tax revenue.
Tri County SRA
Brown presented members of the Tri County SRA with a check for $1,000 at the ribbon-cutting on behalf of Ashley Furniture.
“We want to be a part of the Romeoville community,” Brown said.
The Tri County SRA provides year-round events and activities for adults and children with special needs in the areas in and around Romeoville and Lockport Township.
Tri County SRA acting Director Cathy Davis said in addition to the donation, Ashley Furniture is becoming a member agency.
“It came at the perfect time for us after one of our members ceased to be a member,” Davis said, noting the recent departure of the Lemont Park District.