Ventura's Sofas Etc. to shut doors after nearly 30 years

A family-owned furniture store in Ventura that operated for nearly 30 years is expected to close at the end of the month.

Owners Harriet Beskin and her husband Jeffrey Beskin, who are in their 70s, no longer want to keep Sofas Etc. going and decided to close now that the building was recently sold.

“The store has been part of our life for 27 years,” said Harriet Beskin. “We’re going to miss our customers and employees.”

The business has had a Ventura County presence since 1997 when it opened in Simi Valley. The duo opened their second store in Ventura in 2002 before closing the Simi Valley location the following year.

The Ventura store, at 3409 Telegraph Road, is no longer taking special orders and is just selling remaining inventory, the Beskins said. May 31 is the likely closure date, but the new building owners could extend it.

Jeffrey Beskin said a new furniture store is expected to take over. The midtown site is west of the intersection with Mills Road.

City Councilmember Doug Halter, whose District 2 seat includes the area, said as a council member and fellow business owner he knows how difficult it is to succeed in today's environment.

"It saddens me that we lost another brick-and-mortar business," Halter said in a text message.

He added it's getting harder "to find the items we need for ourselves and our homes" without leaving the city or county.

Ventura resident and customer Allison Pemberton she'd miss the fact the shop is close by.

It has been "a place to look for something to suit my needs," she said.

One longtime customer said he'll miss the customer service and friendly employees.

Rick Barrios, 62, of Ventura, said he had been going to the store since it opened and his parents purchased furniture there when they were alive. He has purchased couches, chairs and recliners in part because of the store’s competitive pricing.

“They’ve been there forever,” he said. “I hate to see stores like that leave the area.”

Employees take the time to explain the products, he said, and aren't in a rush even if other customers are in the store.

Barrios added he has taken avocados from his family’s ranch to the Beskins at their store.

Harriet Beskin said the business has always kept a no-pressure ethos.

“We’re interested to work with someone and help them rather than squeeze them to buy something,” she said.

For more information, visit www.sofasetc.com .

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com , 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes .

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura's Sofas Etc. to shut doors after nearly 30 years