GREENFIELD — J&M Futon at 108 Federal St. is closing its doors for good after nearly 26 years.
Husband and wife Jeffrey and Marvee Ainsworth have sold the building, and the one that consists of an office and apartments next door at 106 Federal St., and will walk away from the business toward the end of the month.
“Retail is hard, of course, but we’ve had a really good run here. And the one thing I’d want to express is gratitude for the people of Greenfield. The people of Greenfield are really great,” Jeff Ainsworth said Tuesday. “We’re going to stay in the area because we love Greenfield.”
He said the buildings, across the street from the parking lot of the Greenfield Lodge of Elks No. 1296, were sold to the family that owns the Beijing House restaurant at 45 Main St.
Ainsworth, 56, said his new focus will be his app development, specifically Jane Austen Manors, a game he has “been nurturing for the last three years.” According to its website, Jane Austen Manors is a decorating and puzzle game set in the Regency era of England, complete with characters and places from Jane Austen’s novels. The game has its own Facebook page and can also be found at janeaustenmanors.com.
Jeff, who moved to the area in 1980, opened J&M Futon with Marvee on Aug. 1, 1993. The “J&M” stand for Jeff and Marvee. Jeff had worked in general furniture stores and developed expertise in the industry.
“I thought that the futons would be a good thing to focus on, to specialize in,” he said, sitting on one of his futons. “And we’ve been very fortunate. We’ve had some really good suppliers. Top-notch people, good product – and that’s why we’ve lasted.
“I think, you take care of your customer and word will get around,” he added. “For 26 years, it’s hard for people to live in this area and not to have bought from me at some point in the past.”
Ainsworth defines a futon as “something that converts from a couch to a bed, or chair to a bed.”
The store sports 600 square feet of showroom space, with another roughly 200 square feet of storage and office space.
“I’ve got to sell everything in here, got to sell all the fixtures,” Ainsworth said. “Everything but the paint.”
He shared an anecdote of having received only one bounced check (for $60) in the past 26 years. He said this speaks to the community’s character.
“That wouldn’t happen if I was in a bigger city,” he said. “(Bad checks) would have been much more of a problem.”
J&M Futon’s website is www.bigfuton.com.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.