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The Furniture Gallery is planning a historic sale at their current location by Jane Pinzhoffer he Furniture Gallery has been a fixture in St. Catharines for 48 years. Originally located on Bunting Road, Frank Sr. and Joanne DiPalma opened their doors in 1975, offering fine home furnishings. By 1989, the Furniture Gallery had relocated to its current location, a spacious 23,000-square-foot showroom at 175 Dieppe Road known for its extensive selection of affordable and high-end furniture and accent pieces for every room in the home. Frank Jr. was just eight years old when his parents started the business. He worked in the store during high school and summers and started full-time after getting his business administration degree. “It was natural for me to help them out, and I’ve been here ever since,” says Frank. “Both my parents were born in Italy and built the business the old-fashioned way through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Several years ago, there was talk of twinning the QEW Skyway Bridge that passes over the Welland Canal, similar to the Burlington Skyway. In August 2019, the DiPalmas were first contacted by the Ministry of Transportation, and the following year they received confirmation that plans to construct a new bridge on their side of the QEW were definite. Unfortunately, a large portion of the land where the Furniture Gallery is located is needed to construct the bridge. After many months of discussions and research, ‘Current Staff. St Kim Melvin, R: Hanna Pictured is Frank & Joanne DiPalma Sr. FURNITURE GALLERY d 175 Dieppe Road, St. Catharines 905.685.4819 » www.furnituregallery.com the site where the Furniture Gallery sits today will soon be no more. Although the DiPalma family has the legal right to negotiate, the government can legally expropriate the property. Frank is still in the lengthy process of dealing with the MTO and hopes to extend the date they have to move. However, it means the Ministry needs the property, and The Furniture Gallery needs to liquidate its showroom. What this means for the Niagara community is that there’s an upcoming sales event happening in the coming weeks that will be like nothing you’ve ever seen before. “In the history of our store, we’ve never had an event like this,” says Frank. “We are currently in the works of planning our biggest sale ever. We need to completely clear out the store. In the next week, you can expect something in your mailbox and postings on social media with more details about this one-of-a-kind sale starting March 2, so stay tuned and be sure to keep an eye on what's to come over the coming weeks.” Spring is a period of rebirth and renewal, and after the long dreary days of winter weather it’s the perfect time to update and renovate your home’s interior. If you’ve been thinking about replacing your well-used gining room furniture, adding a media console to house yout electronics, or kicking that tired old sofa to the curb ond updating it with a comfortable sectional, there’s never been a better time to make these changes. The Furniture Gallery's sale will encompass everything in the store and {aren Bedard, longest serving Pictured employee of 38 years and Frank DiPalma Jr. Spring 1989 Grand Opening of Dieppe Location allow you to redo an entire room for a fraction of what it would cost normally. The savings will be monumental. iu may wonder what's in store for the future for the rant Gallery. While the doors will be permanently closing at 175 Dieppe Road, the business isn’t closing, only transitioning to a new space, a new logo, and a new look later this year. The next incarnation of this stalwart family-run business will be opening later this year. You can expect a more streamlined, contemporary style and selection located close by with the same quality and exceptional customer service you've come to expect. Most of the Furniture Gallery staff will be making the transition. Many long-time employees like Karen who's been with the company for 38 years will be serving you at the new location. “It’s important that the community understands what’s happening is beyond our control. The government needed our property for the Skyway. We had no choice but to close this location, but we’re not gone,” says Frank. “The next chapter for the Furniture Gallery is exciting, and you'll have to stay tuned for that a little later this year. | want to send a big thank you to all who have given us tremendous support for the past 48 years. We wouldn't be here without you.” €202 ‘€% Avenged ‘Aepsiny, | seneeg omALO | 1Z woo"uoy}EYyapIsUt