Two Jefferson City businesses abruptly close

Employees miss out on paycheck

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Some employees of two Jefferson City furniture stores say they feel deceived after the businesses abruptly closed, leaving them unemployed and without their final paychecks.

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Employees said Wednesday that owner Joe Sherman told them after their shift at 7 p.m. Tuesday that the bank was immediately closing Discount Furniture Warehouse, 2009 Missouri Blvd., and his affiliated business at Capital Mall, Furniture Made Easy, because of the economy.

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cr34me 2 years, 6 months ago

Bold move there, same thing happened here about 2 months ago. We were sold to a firm out of the area and a few years later they decided to just close! A local business leader stepped up and said NO. The previous local owners had decided to pursue other business interest leaving family and friends many of which they worked with for over 20 years, just up and said we are closing,thanks for nothing! Banks and big business are not as friendly anymore,no one is willing to wait for the turnaround, whenever that will be?? It has become easier to just walk away. This is a trend here in Jefferson City and the business leaders better wake up before it is to late. I thank my lucky stars for this new owner and hope to make this place what it once was. I NOW look forward to coming to work, AGAIN!

mikemojc 2 years, 6 months ago

"The economy" doesn't close business', management policies and practices close business'. It's common practice for a departing employee to give some notice to an employer when leaving. An employer springing this on employees at literally the last moment, while not illegal, is at least discourteous and certainly disrespectful. I'm not an attorney, but I think it would be a good idea for these employees to file a small claims case for their back wages right away if their former employer misses payment on their scheduled payday.

Does this guy own or run any other business' in the area?

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

Actually it is illegal if it is an employer of over 300 employees. They have to give something like 90 days notice. State law.

emmy 2 years, 6 months ago

I had just ordered and paid for a sofa from there, what are they doing to be sure customers get what they purchased?

mikemojc 2 years, 6 months ago

I'd get in contact with them ASAP.

emmy 2 years, 6 months ago

They don't answer the phone, we've been trying all morning. Seems they have just disappeared.

melbrooks 2 years, 6 months ago

If you paid with a credit card, call the credit card issuer immediately and contest the charge.

nunyabidness 2 years, 6 months ago

And if you paid with a check, put a stop payment on it ASAP.

TheRickster 2 years, 6 months ago

Should have asked Jack,,he knows everything,,about everything!

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

Meanwhile St. Joseph Missouri has quietly added several 100s of high-paying jobs in high-tech manufacturing, biomedical sciences, pharmaceuticals, etc. in the last few months.

Columbia landed the huge IBM facility.

Why can't Jefferson City attract any of these high-paying, high-tech jobs?

JCsleeper 2 years, 6 months ago

Because elected JC officials are to busy quibbling about tattoo parlors, digital signs, jake brakes, dogs in trucks, conventions centers, river peninsulas, and always, the well being of uptown. Other towns look to the future, hence they attract new opportunities and JC youth. This one spends too much time feelin' the history. If they don't start focusing on the future, JC is going to be historic - as in near ghost town status.

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

Good point. I wasn't thinking of jobs for the council members or the Chamber of Commerce good ol' boys...

momofallgirls 2 years, 6 months ago

Oh my If you think economy doesn't close business'.... you are not living in reality. I owned a business for 11 years in this town and have gone out of business due to the economy! The economy had a major affect on my business, although lack of community support with shopping local and supporting small business' and taxing the small business owner to death also had alot to do with it as well.

newone 2 years, 6 months ago

I called Tower Loans which is the place they use to finance and they had no idea this even happen, they acted like I didn't know what I was talking about! Very Strange

ColeCnty1 2 years, 6 months ago

I heard this Joe Sherman is the same person that had a furniture store at the old Gerbes. (ghetto gerbs for locals) He closed that furniture store and opened up Discount Furniture. I wonder why the article is so short. The name of the business isn't even in the title. Maybe Joe Sherman is a local buddy buddy.

newone 2 years, 6 months ago

ColeCnty1, I think they just changed location is all, but I could be wrong.

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