ROCKINGHAM — One city storefront that’s been closed for several months is back in business.
Queen City Homestore was welcomed to the community Wednesday by the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce and other community leaders at its new location in the former Badcock Home Furniture and More building.
According to its website, Queen City Homestore was founded in 1952 as a TV repair business and in the 70-plus years since has grown to be one of the top 30 appliance retailers in the nation.
“We’re just excited to have you here,” said Kristi King, president of the Chamber. “This is a store that has furniture, appliances — so this is very, very exciting for Richmond County.
Any time a business chooses Richmond County, it’s very exciting for all of us,” King added. “We appreciate you choosing Richmond County … and look forward to working with you.”
Roddey Player Jr. of QCH, acknowledging the cliche, said the company didn’t choose Rockingham, “it kinda chose us.”
Badcock, which had been in operation for 120 years, closed all of its stores — more than 300 — in mid-2024 after its parent company filed for bankruptcy.
In the past six months, QCH has been able to take over a few former Badcock locations — including those in Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Durham and Burlington — across the Carolinas.
QCH was able to keep many of the former Badcock employees on the payroll and that the transition has been “pretty easy.”
“All the people in this store are new to us, they’re not new to the community, they’re not new to this building, even,” Player said. “We saw an opportunity to keep jobs in these areas, we saw an opportunity to continue to serve these communities with a better platform.
“Our motto is always to set the standard for serving our family and yours,” Player added. “We want to make sure we continue to raise that bar.”
Player said the employees are ready to help customers make the best choices for their needs.
“We’re not selling — we’re here to have conversations and build relationships,” Player said. “If we can educate you on the products that we have, that’s what we’re here for.”
It’s that mentality, Player said, that has kept the family owned company growing.
“It’s never going to be a … sales pitch, it’s about soliciting opinions … What can we do to help Rockingham? What can we do to help the community?”
Transitioning the former Badcock properties, Player continued, is more about expanding its product lines than just expanding its footprint.
Seeing the selection of sofas, sectionals, recliners, beds and appliances, County Commissioner Jason Gainey said he felt like he “stepped back in time” and felt like he was in his grandfather’s store, Bowle’s Furniture, adding that it brought “chill bumps when I walked in the door.”
He jokingly recounted that Rockingham City Councilwoman Denise Sullivan told him not to jump on the furniture.
“We are excited…not only for your future here and the growth that’s coming to this company as you expand into Richmond County, but also the blessing that it brings to the county at large and the service that it provides,” Gainey said.
Sullivan encouraged the residents of Rockingham and other communities in the county “to please support this company.”
Looking at what products Queen City offers, Sullivan said she told her husband, “We don’t have to go to Southern Pines anymore, it’ll be here.”
“I hope that we’ll be good to you and you’ll be with us for a long time.”
