From the Ground Up: Ashley Furniture Homestore

Owner/developer: Andrew and Robert Covington/Cox McCarver Development (Jackson, Tenn.)

General contractor: Morelock-Ross Builders Inc.

Architect: Slone Architects PC

Engineers: Great River Engineering of Springfield Inc., civil; Edelman Engineering, structural; Hall Engineering (Jackson, Tenn.), mechanical, electrical and plumbing

Size: 45,000 square feet

Estimated cost: $3 million

Lender: None

Estimated completion date: mid-December

Project description: Father and son Robert and Andrew Covington will operate this store on East Independence Street, which has become something of a furniture mecca with Bassett Furniture Direct, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, Slumberland Furniture, Hank’s Fine Furniture, Furniture Factory Outlet and Indigo Imports operating within less than a mile of each other. Andrew Covington said he and his uncle, Jim Spencer, also own 11 Ashley Furniture Homestores in the South. Cox McCarver Development of Jackson, Tenn., owns the land and building, and the Covingtons have a long-term lease to operate the business. Andrew Covington said they are eyeing expansion opportunities in Joplin and at Lake of the Ozarks.

Reporter Cory Smith brings you new projects each week. He may be reached by e-mail at csmith@sbj.net, by fax at (417) 799-0603 or by phone at (417) 616-5854.