Rowe Furniture to reorganize

Rowe Furnniture Co. will be closing the manufacturing operation in Morehouse, however, the kiln operation will continue.

MOREHOUSE - A company which can trace its roots in Southeast Missouri to the late 1800s is closing its manufacturing operation here.

The Rowe Companies and its manufacturing subsidiary Rowe Furniture Co. filed a petition Tuesday seeking protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. A manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture, Rowe has facilities at Morehouse and Poplar Bluff.

According to a news release, this move will enable the company to reorganize and focus on manufacturing as its sister subsidiary, Storehouse, is sold.

"As part of our reorganization and restructuring, we have had to make the difficult decision to close the Rowe facilities in Missouri," said Saverio Mancina, director of public relations for Rowe, by e-mail.

Mancina wrote that the company is speaking with employees at the Morehouse location as well as its Poplar Bluff facility about relocation to the Elliston and Salem, Va., facilities.

"Our hope is that many of the talented employees in Missouri will consider moving to Virginia as we value their contributions," Mancina said.

Also he noted the kiln operating function in Morehouse will remain open. The kiln operation is used to dry wood to remove the moisture prior to construction of the furniture.

According to the "History of Southeast Missouri," the Morehouse facility was founded in 1895 as the Himmelberger-Luce Land and Lumber Company at Morehouse. In 1904 it changed its name to Himmelberger and Harrison Lumber Co.

In 1973, Rowe entered into a lease for the operation of Himmelberger-

Harrison Manufacturing Co. in Morehouse. The plant was used as an additional frame source.

By 1979, as a subsidiary of Rowe Furniture Co., the Morehouse plant employed some 110 workers. It was at that time, Rowe invested some $3 million in the facility to double the plant's output and add another 45 to 70 jobs.

The Poplar Bluff facility opened in 1968 and began production of Rowe's upholstery line. It was expanded in 1973.

The company declined to provide current employment numbers for its Missouri operations.

A Reuters news report stated the company has suffered increasing costs and lower orders at its manufacturing unit, and on a same-store basis at its retail units. In the second quarter of this year, Rowe posted a $4.9 million loss. To stem the loss the company has embarked on a round of cost cutting and reorganizational moves, Reuters reported.

While the Missouri facilities are currently continuing operations, company officials said there will be a gradual transfer of production to the Virginia facilities. The company has set a Nov. 22 date for the completion of the transition.

In Wednesday's edition of the Poplar Bluff Daily American, it was announced a job fair will be held in the factory's cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 29, allowing those Rowe workers to meet with potential employers, fill out applications, as well as learn about job training opportunities through Three Rivers Community College.

While the Poplar Bluff Rowe workers are certified for benefits provided by the Trade Act of 1974, which includes assistance in seeking work, resume writing, job training and weekly allowances, no certification has been sought for those at the Morehouse facility, said Patricia Wise, coordinator for the Missouri Division of Employment Security.

Wise did say workers from Morehouse could seek assistance through the Missouri Career Center, 202 S. Kingshighway in Sikeston.