Sparks To Close

Steven Lane/The Columbian)

Sparks Home Furnishings, downtown Vancouver's oldest business, is closing after 132 years. The economy and the high sales tax were to reasons mentioned by Tom Craig. The building at 1001 Broadway is being sold to a downtown developer for $1.7 million in a deal expected to close in June.

We bought our Woodard outdoor furniture from Sparks many years ago. We had our own furniture business on Macadam before we represented Woodard. We were struck by Sparks' refusal to give us a designer discount. The Woodard outdoor furniture still serves us well on our deck and looks as good as the day we brought it home.

One more furniture store lost to the economy and the big box stores.

See related story:  Old cash register found in store wall (at Sparks).