High-end furniture store Louis Shanks is closing after almost 80 years in business. The store opened in 1945 and has been family owned for four generations.

Mike Forwood—the company’s president and grandson of founder Louis Shanks—said closing was a “difficult decision.”

“There were a variety of factors involved. Post COVID[-19], trying to find employees has been a challenge,” Forwood said. “The store is bigger than the current business model should be. We’ve got 108,000 square feet of space to operate in.”

Louis Shanks’ two remaining locations in Austin and San Antonio will begin liquidation sales Sept. 21. The sale will run until everything is sold, or for 120 days—the state limit on liquidation sales, Forwood said.

Looking ahead, Forwood said he’s interested in keeping the business alive in the form of a delivery service, but there are no firm details on the next steps.


“It’s been a good run,” Forwood said. “All good things come to an end one way or another, and we’ve done better than most.”