EPHRATA - How many businesses can say they've survived 100 years of an evolving economy, changing technology and new clientele?

Not many, it appears, especially in today's economy. 

But next year, Moore Furniture in Ephrata joins a select group.

Now retired, Lowell Moore, father of current owners Mike Moore and Kelly Moore, remembers how he took over the business in 1956.

Lowell had been home for two weeks from the Air Force when his father, store owner Kenneth Moore, died of a heart attack.

Lowell was 23, married with two children and now responsible for making the business thrive. His widowed mother was also counting on him.

"I had no choice but to make it," Lowell said. "I had my family, obligations and pride."

His mother, Averill Moore, answered phones and handled some bookkeeping. Her help meant he didn't have to hire an employee. 

At that time, there was one location in Ephrata and one store in Wenatchee. The Wenatchee location eventually closed and the focus was put on Ephrata with its location as the Grant County seat.

The town had the added stability of having three government entities located there, the Grant County courthouse, Grant County PUD and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 

The business operated six days a week. Lowell went seven years without a vacation.

One of his theories of business is to have absolutely consistent hours. 

Once a year, he would take his crew to the furniture market in Seattle to see the new product lines and suppliers. 

But he always posted his store's schedule change in advance for customers.

Today, Lowell says the store does as much business in one day as he did during one Christmas month.

Part of the reason is because the larger space offers more selection. 

Their current location, Ephrata's former Safeway building, also has "fantastic parking" and visibility from downtown Basin Street, he explained.

"At this point, we're going to keep doing what we're doing," his son Kelly said. "We enjoy being in the business and profiting."

Mike, Kelly's brother and store co-owner, said they are trying to keep the store modern and updated. 

One update includes adding a large, computerized digital sign outside the store.

The sign draws people inside because of its instant messaging ability.

"You can say 'hey, you in the yellow fishing boat!'" Mike explained.

Kelly said one of the biggest changes was moving to their current building, as they were located in today's iFiber Communications building for 41 years.

"That was the business my dad bought," Kelly said of the old location. 

Mike said the old store sold many items from Monarch ranges to baby carriages.

"These days, so much manufacturing is done overseas and imported, we don't have a choice but to do that," he said.

Kelly said furniture is still furniture, but the way it is made changed.

"We have to make a bigger investment for purchases," he said. 

Also, customers are more mobile now and don't mind  driving farther distances to shop.

More customers are also willing to pick up their furniture from the store. 

At the same time, Kelly explains the store's delivery expenses increased as they offer the service for free.

The store carries its own financing, although it's had many opportunities to sell accounts to financing companies.

"Free delivery and in-house financing are an edge we have against other competitors," he said. 

The benefits of having a family-owned business include an easier transition between generations, successors and the ability to work as a team.

"We want to see each other succeed in life and business," Kelly said. "I am looking out for Mike and he is looking our for me. There are a lot of family businesses that don't have that relationship."

Mike added that they don't work on commission sales and it's not a cutthroat environment on the sales floor.

His son, Matt, started working for the business six or seven years ago.

"He's a huge asset to our business," Kelly said. "We all work together like he could be one of our brothers."

Matt tries to bring a new way of thinking to the store, with furniture for younger generations and a more updated look, Kelly said.

"Mike's trying to bring about the new generation's attitude," Kelly said.

Kelly's wife, Janice, and Mike's wife, Karen, also work at the store.

Kelly and Mike also talked about the future.

"There are a tremendous amount of furniture stores going broke these days," Kelly said. "We're really fortunate to still be thriving in a down economy. Surviving what's going on out there is a good goal."

Mike said Ephrata's economy is stable, as it's a government town. 

"We haven't seen a big change as far as total sales go," he said.  "We've geared up a little more for homeowners fixing up their places," he said.

Moore Furniture is located at 328 Basin St., SW. 

For more Lynne Lynch/Columbia Basin Herald Lynch/Columbia Basin Herald, call 509-754-3231 or visit Lynne Lynch/Columbia Basin Herald.

Lynne Lynch/Columbia Basin Herald