JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP -- A furniture store in Lackawanna County plans to close at the end of this year after three decades in business.
Employees at Butler's Furniture and Mattress Center said stores like theirs are struggling and family-run furniture stores may become a thing of the past.
David Thomas said he's enjoyed putting together people's kitchens and living rooms in the Mount Cobb area for the past few decades. An interaction he'll miss when his employer, Butler's Furniture, closes for good in November.
"The customers here are wonderful, it's a great place to be in the furniture business," Thomas said.
It's the furniture business that became the problem, Thomas said. The Butler family has decided to close the business on Route 348 for a few reasons, including an increase in bigger competition.
Employees at Butler's said they are one of the last of a dying breed. Family-run furniture stores are becoming harder and harder to find and they said that's because it's hard to keep their prices competitive with big box stores.
"If you can't buy right, you can't sell right, and buying right's not easy!" Thomas added.
Butler's has been in business for more than 30 years. It's been at its location on Mt. Cobb Road for the past decade. Now, the building is for sale and Butler's plans to be out before Thanksgiving.
"I'm going to go in there because my bedroom and mattress, I got it from them. I got a nice recliner from them, I'm going to miss them!" said Susan Good of Greentown.
Customers said Butler's may not be able to beat the prices of bigger stores, but they do beat them in service. That's what employees said this area will miss out on most as family-run stores dwindle.
Along with selling off all their merchandise, the employees at Butler's said they'll spend the next few months thanking their customers for a good 30 years.