Circle K Furniture, a retailer of furniture and home accents in Northeast Florida, announced Thursday it is going out of business and closing both of its Jacksonville stores.
A going-out-of-business sale began Saturday in the two Circle K stores at 239 Jones Road and 9041 Southside Blvd.
The planned closure is due in part to economic pressure and decreasing demand for home furnishings caused by the recent housing market collapse, in addition to owner Jose Lantigua's failing health, the release said.
J.G. Lantigua said his father died April 17 while out of the country.
"Our family is working hard to deal with the loss of a true father, friend and mentor, we were truly blessed to have him in our lives; he will be missed by all of us as well as by this community," Lantigua said in the release.
Lantigua had purchased Circle K Furniture from the founders in 2008.
The store was founded in 1982 when Louise Kittrell took over a corner of her husband's feed stores to sell a few pieces of pine furniture.
"She had a knack for choosing pieces that the locals loved and soon added country collectibles, lace products and curtains," the release said.
Kittrell's husband expanded the feed store to provide her more space, and the couple's daughters joined to help with growing demand. The company then began buying in bulk "and passing on the savings to customers," the release said.
"Leaving the store in the hands of their daughters, Kittrell and her husband traveled extensively in search of one-of-a-kind styles. Soon, customers overflowed the parking lot," it said.
"Wanting to keep their overhead low so they could keep prices low, the family converted their huge riding stables into a furniture store."
The release said Circle K grew into multiple locations. The original riding stable is a 60,000-square-foot showroom with a 51,000-square-foot warehouse on the same acreage.
"Both stores will be offering going-out-of-business prices and closing forever," said the release.
Everything in the stores must be sold. The release said Circle K Furniture features brands such as Broyhill, Howard Miller, Universal, Southern Motion, Best Chair and Benchmade Leather. Styles range from country to contemporary.
The company also offers bedding and rugs.
The company's website is circlekfurniture.com.
Circle K Furniture mailed cards this week announcing that after 31 years, it is going out of business and holding a "multimillion dollar liquidation" of furniture and rugs.
The card offers discounts for six days only. It said it was "closing both Jacksonville locations ... forever!"
"It is sad but true, after 31 years of serving north Florida and south Georgia, Circle K Furniture is going out of business forever," it says.
The holders of the cards receive a special additional discount, it said.