MARTINSVILLE, VA – The ultimate fate of Barcalounger’s U.S. motion furniture manufacturing plant remains to be seen.
Officials of American of Martinsville, parent company of Barcalounger, have been mum since the plant was suddenly closed last week. Not even local Martinsville city officials know why the plant was closed and whether or not it will be reopened.
Employees at the shuttered Barcalounger plant told WSLS news that they were told last Friday (April 16) that they were being laid off without a severance package. The City of Martinsville and state officials told the TV station that they had not been notified about the closing. Approximately 200 people were reportedly employed at the plant.
Martinsville City Manager Clarence Monday told WSLS, “We’re wondering like the rest of the community with what’s going on with American of Martinsville. We’ve received no notification from them as to their status.”
Furniture Today reported that Barcalounger’s domestic production was moved last year from Rocky Mount, NC, to Martinsville. The trade daily also noted that Barcalounger’s showroom was open during the High Point Market this past week.
Read WSLS’s report.
Read Furniture Today's report.
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