Venerable furniture vendor closing

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - After nearly 40 years of dressing up Albuquerque homes, furniture dealer Leishman Interiors is going out of business.

The high-end retailer says it's all been a trickle-down effect of the bad economy.

The sign says it all: four decades worth of furnishing homes will be coming to an end in the next 90 days.

"We have seen a real shortfall on business in the last four years, and it's been slow," owner Scott Leishman told KRQE news 13.

Leishman said with the economy taking the bad turn and fewer homes being built in the area, it's all added up to the painful decision to close the doors at their store at Juan Tabo and Eubank in northeast Albuquerque.

"There's been some remorse and some reflection on the business, but we've all decided that this was a great move for us to make at this time," Leishman said.

The family business began in 1974 when Scott's parents Bill and Dee Leishman opened their first store off San Mateo Boulevard.

From there they moved to two other locations in Albuquerque and at one point they even had a store in Santa Fe.

The Leishman name became synonymous around town for high-quality furniture.

Leishman said it's not just the business that they're going to miss but the many loyal friends and customers that they've made over the last 40 years.

"It's been a great business and a great opportunity for all of our family," he said.  "We don't just sell furniture; we help people with their homes and try to do the best design jobs that we can."

Now, it's just a matter of time before another well-known family run store close its doors for good in Albuquerque.

"It is very sobering to see one high-quality furniture dealer after another kind of biting the dust," customer Susan Williams said.  "I am sorry to see that."

Store owners say they will liquidate the store's $2 million inventory over the next three months.

Leishman Interiors has been active in the community over the years donating to the Ronald McDonald House and the American Cancer Society.