Maryland Furniture Store Closing After 174 Years

BOONSBORO, Md. (AP) - Inside the old brick building on Boonsboro's Main Street where generations of local families have gone for furniture, for friendly conversation, and, in the old days, even for funerals, employees have been quietly informing customers of a difficult decision.

This summer, after celebrating its 174th anniversary, Bast of Boonsboro, believed by the proprietor to be the oldest continually operating furniture store in Maryland, will close.

"Mr. Bast has operated the store for a long period of time, and has been considering retiring, and the economy has just helped to make that decision a little easier," store manager Kim Teska said.

For owner Douglas G. Bast, 74, who also operates a neighboring history museum, a passion for preserving heritage has made the decision all the more harrowing.

"I just hate to see something like this close, but you have to face up to it: It just doesn't work out anymore," Bast said during a recent interview in the store's showroom.

The store has survived hard times before, but a combination of a poor economy and changing culture have convinced Bast there is no way forward from here.

"The younger set, when they are interested in furniture, they go to the computer and they, you know, find out who has what," Bast said. "They don't really look for furniture that's going to last a long time. They say, `Well, gee, if it only lasts three or four years, I'll be interested in something new by that time, anyway.'"

Bast of Boonsboro will began a going-out-of-business sale last month but, will accept special orders through the third week of May, and has set July 1 as its anticipated closing date, Teska said.

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