We were there for the International Furniture Market’s pre market, thoughtfully and excitedly shopping for our new adventure in retail, Outer Banks Furniture. We entered the vendor showroom to shop for recliners and we were immediately struck by the number of people staring at the TV’s that hung from the showroom walls. It was September 11, 2001. We joined the on lookers and watched in disbelief a
s the second plane hit the South Tower. Market was over. The world as we had known it was over. We left High Point and headed home, questioning our timing in opening a new business, but the die was cast. We had borrowed money, signed a lease, bought merchandise, hired employees and made a commitment. We opened Outer Banks Furniture in the Outer Banks Mall in November 2001. The grand opening was well attended and deemed to be a success. In the months that followed businesses on the Outer Banks flourished. Vacationers and second home buyers flocked to this ocean paradise in a quest for a safe haven. This was the rainbow after the storm. Twenty years have gone by and we are all weathering another storm. The pandemic has changed all our lives. The circumstances are different but the outcomes are eerily similar. Fear and tragedy have brought more people to the Outer Banks. The lure of the ocean and the warmth of her people are hard to resist. We have gone through changes at Outer Banks Furniture. We have moved from Nags Head to Kitty Hawk, but still service the entire Outer Banks. We have concluded that “less is more.”
Our business model may have changed over the years, but our commitment to customer service has not. It has remained steady over these 20 years, and God willing, will remain steady for many years to come. Please visit us at 5301 N. Croatan Hwy. We look forward to seeing you.
