Furniture store closes family tradition

Larry Horbach has decided to close his family's furniture store in Toledo to go into the insurance business. Photo by Dave Rasdal.

By Dave Rasdal
The Gazette

TOLEDO — “Sold” signs hang on sofas and chairs at Horbach Furniture, signifying more than one or two pieces moving out the door. This is a “Going Out of Business” sale, one that brings an end to the store that has served the Tama-Toledo area for 43 years.

It ended with an auction last weekend to liquidate all inventory.

“I’m ready for a change,” says owner Larry Horbach, 45, as he rests for a moment on an unsold sofa. “I want to provide a different service to this community.”

So, after 30 years in the family’s furniture business, as the last to leave it, Larry will sell insurance.

That’s not so unusual when you learn that his family has followed that path — mother, Verlene, in it for 20 years in Toledo, older brothers Lon and Lance in it for 16 years and 12 years, respectfully — in other areas of Iowa.

“Everybody needs insurance,” Larry says. “Furniture isn’t always at the top of your list.”

Still, for 43 years, Horbach Furniture in Toledo provided a good living for the family. The father, Ron, opened it in 1965 after growing up in the family’s Grundy Center furniture business. Lon, Lance and Larry began as delivery boys, and all had a financial interest at one time or another. Ron is the only one left in furniture, selling it to stores in the Dallas, Texas, area for nearly 27 years.

The Horbach Funiture Store building. Photo by Dave Rasdal.

Now that Horbach Furniture has closed, the Tama-Toledo area, which once had five furniture stores, is left with only a rent-to-own store.

“I’d love to see another furniture store come in here,” says Larry, surrounded by the wide-open space and the original tall tin ceiling of the two-story Masonic Temple building erected in 1898. The Masons met upstairs until a decade or so ago when they moved to Tama, selling that portion of the building to Larry.

Larry tried to sell the business, but nobody could come up with the money. He’s tried to sell the building, too, but so far has had only lookers.

The market — about a 40-mile radius — is still viable, Larry says.

“The biggest challenge would be competing with the bigger stores (in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids),” Larry says. “I can compete with Marshalltown, no problem.”

But, for Larry and his family — wife Chris, who works for the Iowa Department of Human Services, and children Abby, 19, and Brandon, 16 — it’s time for a change.

After statewide training, Larry will take over his mother’s State Farm Insurance agency upon her retirement Jan. 1. And he’s not going far — that office is next door.

© Gazette Communications 2009