By: Deborah Johnson Wood
A circa 1889 Romanesque building with its original grand staircase and ballroom will soon be transformed into one of Muskegon's shopping destinations. Hegg's Gallery of Fine Furniture is moving forward with their vision for a 14,000-square-foot showroom and design center in the heart of the city.
Hegg's Gallery has been a mainstay in nearby Hart since 1946. And now they're opening a second showroom in the historic Century Club building at 356 Western Avenue.
"I noticed over the past couple of years that 36 percent of our business comes from Muskegon County," said Stacie Hegg, owner and president, "so we felt there was a need in Muskegon for a design-oriented furniture store."
The showroom will occupy all three floors of the building. Restorations include the original oak grand staircase, the raised-panel woodwork in the main floor library, and the original wood floors. On the second level, the 2,016-square-foot former ballroom will feature a historically accurate chandelier and windows overlooking Muskegon Lake.
Much of the building's original ornamentation had been removed by a previous owner and sold, but that simply added some fun to the hunt for Hegg.
"We found the library's original fireplace mantel at a Muskegon antique store," she said, "and that will be restored."
Hegg plans to use the restored rooms as a backdrop for traditional furnishings. Other areas with exposed brick walls and exposed ductwork will display contemporary furnishings.
"One area we've been investigating is organic, chemical-free furniture made of sustainable materials," Hegg said, "for builders that want to go 'green' for their projects."
The expansion to the second location prompted Hegg to hire seven new employees. She hopes to open the store July 1, and has a grand opening planned for the fall.
The architectural drawings were created by Sidock Group; the renovation is being done by Western Avenue Properties, LLC.
Source: Stacie Hegg, Hegg's Gallery of Fine Furniture; Gary Post, Western Avenue Properties, LLC
Deborah Johnson Wood is the Development News Editor for Rapid Growth. She can be reached at [email protected].
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