Havertys Furniture history

In 1889, J.J. and Michael entered a partnership with the owner of a neighboring furniture store, Amos G. Rhodes, forming the Rhodes-Haverty Furniture Company.

His first new store opened in 1891, and he soon bought interest in a number of smaller showrooms in outlying areas.

In 1894 he returned to Atlanta and, with Rhodes and Peyton A. Snook, opened a new store in the former National Hotel building.

In 1898 this partnership was dissolved, however, and Haverty and Rhodes opened yet another Atlanta store, later adding other locations around the South.

1908: J.J. Haverty and son Clarence split with Rhodes and re-establish Haverty Furniture Co.

Following the split with Rhodes, the company began to expand, opening stores in Birmingham, Alabama and Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina by 1916.

Havertys also moved its Atlanta headquarters to a larger six-story building in 1924.

The stock sale took place on October 1, 1929.

In the wake of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's efforts toward economic recovery, however, the company made a return to profitability in 1934.

Clarence Haverty, who had run the business for many years, was officially named president in 1938, at which time his father J.J. became chairman of the board.

In October 1939, just short of his 81st birthday, founder J.J. Haverty died.

In December 1941 the United States entered World War II, and the company faced a reduction in revenues brought on by the rationing of materials used in furniture production.

Another one of the founder's grandsons, Frank McGaughey, Jr., who had been with the company since 1947, accepted the title of president.

Also during this period, J.J. Haverty and Amos Rhodes formed another partnership, this time to erect the Rhodes-Haverty Building, which would remain Atlanta's tallest structure until 1954.

Clarence Haverty stepped down as president in 1955 at the age of 73, and Rawson took on the role.

By 1960, the year of the company's 75th anniversary, Havertys added four more locations.

In 1961 Havertys made a major expansion move by purchasing ten National Biederman stores in the Houston, Texas area, giving them the Haverty name.

Grandson of J.J. Haverty, Clarence (Clancy) H. Ridley, elected to the board of directors in 1979, took Rawson's place as chairman of the board.

Rawson Haverty led the company through this transition as president and Chief Executive Officer until 1984, when he was elected as chairman of the board.

In 1986 the company closed its last downtown Atlanta store, although it still remained the area's largest furniture retailer, with locations distributed throughout the metropolitan area.

Frank McGaughey, Jr. added CEO to his title in addition to president in 1990.

Havertys also opened a prototype store in Naples, Florida in late 1992 that solely featured Thomasville merchandise; three more such stores were added over the next year.

In August 1998, the company's stock listing moved from the NASDAQ Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange.

The company formed another alliance with a major manufacturer in 1999, announcing an agreement with La-Z-Boy Inc. to take over an existing La-Z-Boy store in Memphis and possibly open a second store in the area.

An initiative began to develop Havertys' own brand of furniture, starting with just a few items in February 2000.

Progress continued and 100 stores were in business by the beginning of 2001, when the furniture retailer saw another change in leadership.

Clancy provided continuity and guidance when J.J.'s great grandson Clarence H. Smith, who spent his entire career experiencing all facets of the company, became president and CEO in 2002.

Rawson Haverty continued to attend board meetings until his death in 2007 at the age of 86.

By March 2008, customers could browse through products and make purchases online.