One of Longview’s oldest furniture stores, Lowell Holloway Furniture has been committed to serving residents for more than 70 years.
But the roots of this Longview business go back much deeper.
“It all goes back to one of the founding fathers, O.H. Methvin Sr., who was the founder of Longview,” said William Hubert Akins, owner of the furniture store. “You see, O.H. Methvin Sr. had a son, O.H. Methvin Jr., who had a daughter, Lizzie Methvin. Lizzie Methvin married a Holloway – Alton Holloway, who opened the first furniture store in the City of Longview.”
Alton Holloway operated his business for a few decades. In May 1949 Alton and Lizzie Holloway’s son, Lowell Holloway, decided to open his namesake business just outside of the then-city limits of Longview, Akins said.
Akins began working at the furniture store in 1951. He recalls the store having no central heat or air in the early days, and said the 6,000-square-foot building that Holloway had turned into a company was formerly a popular night spot that attracted live bands to perform.
In 1969 Lowell Holloway sold his well-established furniture store to his son, Lowell Holloway Jr., and to Akins.
Akins said he and Holloway continued building upon the company’s principles of providing customer satisfaction, value, and service to grow the business. Akins and Holloway operated in partnership until 1997 when Akins bought out Holloway’s share of the company.
Over the years as the business grew its customer base, it also expanded its infrastructure, Akins said. In 1952, the portion of the store that now houses the leather gallery was added, Akins said. In 1973, the current showroom and office were added, he said. In 1975, the portion of the store that now houses the mattresses was added, he said.
Today, Lowell Holloway Furniture – located at 836 W. Marshall Ave. – occupies about 50,000 square feet of showroom and warehouse space, Akins said. The store offers a wide variety of home furnishings for every room of the house, including the bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining and office.
Akins said he is most proud of the store’s enlargement and growth over the years.
“It was a great accomplishment, and without a doubt one of the proudest moments is to have this big, big, big furniture store,” he said.
The store has grown throughout the years along with the city itself, Akins said, as he recalled the city’s transformation over the past several decades.
“I’ve seen it grow from a small town to what it is today, and it’s just unbelievable,” he said.
As the city continues to grow, Akins said it is his hope and intention for the furniture store to follow suit.
To learn more about Lowell Holloway Furniture, visit hollowaysfurniture.com.