‘Devastating news.’ NC furniture maker abruptly shuts down, with over 530 out of work
Hundreds of furniture company workers just lost their jobs after a furniture company about an hour north of Charlotte closed abruptly over the weekend.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams workers were met with signs Saturday on the office door and a gate saying the Taylorsville plant was “unexpectedly” unable to continue business operations. Taylorsville in Alexander County is about one hour north of Charlotte.
The layoffs affect 533 employees at three sites, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) filed Monday with the North Carolina Department of Commerce. There are 440 workers at One Comfortable Place, Taylorsville; 47 workers at 125 Lulu Lane, Statesville; and 46 employees at 375 Sharpe Lane, Hiddenite, in Alexander County, according to the report emailed to The Charlotte Observer.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision, as it means the loss of many dedicated and valued employees. Thus, any assistance that you can provide in helping us to place our employees in new work would be greatly appreciated,” MG+BW CEO Chris Moye said in the WARN letter to the state.
The announcement was just the latest in a line of closures to befall North Carolina’s once-robust furniture-making industry.
Earlier this month, Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries Inc. said it was ceasing operations with nearly 900 job losses, WARN notices filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce show. And last year, Ashley Furniture Furniture Industries permanently closed its Statesville facility, resulting in 111 layoffs, when the Wisconsin-based company consolidated operations, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Employees at several North Carolina sites for MG+BW were told not to report to work Monday, including at the main plant in Taylorsville as well as in Statesville, Hiddenite and teleworkers.
“We are sorry about the difficulties this may cause,” the sign said. “As soon as we have