With a golden shovel in hand, Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale broke ground Tuesday on Gallery Furniture's largest store ever. The ceremony, which featured sky writing and a hand bell performance, was almost as extravagant as the new store is said to be once completed.
Located off Grand Parkway just south of the Westpark Tollway, the new store will house a 165,000 square foot showroom — over a quarter larger than its 110,000 square foot North Freeway flagship location. The store will also feature a large play area — complete with a tree house — and a full-service restaurant.
The store will also feature a large play area — complete with a tree house — and a full-service restaurant.
Dubbed "Gallery Furniture Grand Parkway," the new store will be located at The Market at Long Meadow Farms in Richmond, between Katy and Sugar Land. It is expected to bring 150 jobs to Fort Bend County.
McIngvale said he plans to hire veterans who live in the area, use local furniture vendors and locally source food for the restaurant, according to KHOU 11 News. The store will also house an area where residents of the nearby Brookwood Community for disabled adults will sell their products.
Although it's certainly his largest new project, the Grand Parkway store isn't McIngvale's only recent venture. Earlier this year, he launched Gallery Movers, a full-service moving company that utilizes the stores' delivery staff. He also has a furniture store at 2411 Post Oak Blvd., near the Galleria.
McIngvale was not available for comment on Wednesday, but a Gallery Furniture said the Grand Parkway store is expected to be open by Christmas.
See the KHOU video here:
The new Gallery Furniture Grand Parkway store, the largest of McIngvale's empire, will feature a 165,000 square foot showroom, a play area and full-service restaurant.
