Another Houston Landmark Goes Bye-Bye

I talked about how I felt when what would have been Astroworld's 40th anniversary passed with it being razed to the ground and many Houstonians still saddened and pissed about how Six Flags handled the situation.

Now another landmark company for many Houstonians is going bye-bye as well.

Finger Furniture, where for 81 years generations of Houstonians have bought the furniture for their homes will become Ashley Furniture HomeStores. The four Finger locations in town will be shut down, including the massive one on the Gulf Freeway close to downtown that holds the Houston Baseball Museum and the home plate for old Buffs Stadium.

The Gulf Freeway store sits on the site of old Buffs Stadium, which was the home of Houston's longtime minor league baseball team the Houston Buffalos.

It was a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate until the Colt 45s/Astros were born in 1962. Some legendary Cardinals such as Dizzy Dean played here before heading off to St. Louis and future Hall of Fame careers.

As a result of being a former Cardinals farm team city, the major league opponent that draws the biggest crowds for Astros games behind the Cubs and ahead of the Braves and Dodgers, especially among the generation that grew up with the Buffs is the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also ironic that we beat the Cards to earn our first National League championship in 2005.

Finger Furniture was founded by Sam Finger in 1927. His son S.P. "Sammy" Finger was an industry legend who pioneered the environmental room-setting retail concept, according to the American Furniture Hall of Fame.

In 1989, Robert "Bobby" Finger became president and CEO. The company named his son Rodney Finger president in 2006, and the following year, after the death of Bobby Finger, Rodney became CEO.

Last year, the company posted sales of about $255 million, according to Furniture Today.

"It's sad to see them go. Sammy Finger built a great brand," said Jim McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture.

"Finger's has been a good name in the community for a long time. I wish the family and employees well and hope the transformation is successful," said Melvyn Wolff, chairman of Star Furniture, a 96-year-old chain and the oldest in Texas.

Fingers was a victim of the changes in the furniture industry. Once upon a time all furniture retailers in the States bought their products in North Carolina. Now it comes from all over the world. Rodney Finger mentioned that several of Fingers old suppliers have gone out of business as a result of that changing business model.

Fingers bought the exclusive operating rights for Ashley Furniture in the Houston area a few years ago. The three Ashley stores it has opened in the Houston market are outperforming their four Fingers ones, leading to the corporate restructuring.

Most of the furniture in my parents and grandparents homes came from Fingers. When I tagged along on those furniture shopping trips I'd make a beeline for the Houston Baseball Museum section of the store and its free soda pop.

I understand the Finger's are doing what they have to do to ensure the company survives for a fifth generation and beyond. The end result is that another piece of the Houston I and generations of people grew up with, and like Joske's and Sakowitz, another marquee retailing name in the Houston area is going away forever.