PHOTO / TINA FISCHER
Ashley Furniture will be moving into the former Burlington location at Jetport Plaza in South Portland.
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Retailer Ashley will join an evolving South Portland furniture market
PROVIDED RENDERING
A rendering of what the Ashley storefront will look like when it opens in 2026.
South Portland’s Western Avenue will be gaining another furniture store in 2026, with the opening of an Ashley store and outlet, in the Jetport Plaza.
Broad River Retail, which owns and operates 36 stores under an Ashley license, is developing a 44,900-square-foot store in the space formerly occupied by a Burlington store. Burlington moved to Maine Crossing plaza at 200 Running Hill Road in 2021.
Scheduled to open in the first half of 2026, the Ashley store will be Broad River Retail's first in Maine, extending its presence into northern New England.
“Our entry into Maine marks an important new chapter for Broad River Retail,” said Charlie Malouf, CEO. “This is our first store in the Northeast, and it is vitally important to our expansion plans in this part of the country.”
The expansion will initially create an estimated 45 jobs including retail sales, retail leadership and distribution center operations — the firm is exploring options for industrial space to establish a distribution center in the region.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Fort Mill, S.C., Broad River Retail is one of the largest independently owned Ashley licensees, operating 36 retail locations. The privately held company employs more than 850 people across its stores, distribution centers and two corporate campuses.
The 80-year-old Ashley company, headquartered in Arcadia, Wisc., retails home and office furnishings in 155 countries.
“Opening our first store in Maine is an important milestone for our company,” said Manny Rodrigues, president and COO of Broad River Retail. “The Greater Portland region demonstrates strong retail demand and sustained growth, making it a natural market for our expansion.”
The South Portland store will be located next to Staples in the Jetport Plaza, which is a stone’s throw to the Portland International Jetport and less than a mile from the Maine Mall.
The retailer will join a host of other furniture stores in the mall area, including Cabot House and Furniture Superstore, both on Western Avenue, and Jordan’s Furniture, LoveSac and Pottery Barn which are in the Maine Mall. Bernie & Phyl’s is on Maine Mall Road.
F.X. Marcotte, a longtime furniture retailer at 130 Western Ave., recently closed and the 20,700-square-foot space is currently listed for sale or lease. The Western Avenue corridor was once home to Thomasville Furniture, a Young's Ethan Allen Gallery, which has moved to 1 Diamond St. in Portland, and Bedderrest Mattress and Furniture, which no longer operates in Maine.
The Jetport Plaza is owned by the Galloway Group.
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