The Pierce Furniture Story: A Maine Family Business Since 1920

Not many furniture stores can trace their roots back four generations. Pierce Furniture can.

My name is Larry Pierce, and the history behind our family business is one we’re proud to share. What started as a small furniture repair and refinishing company in Scarborough, Maine, in 1920 has grown — through hard work, family dedication, and a genuine love of the craft — into one of the region’s most trusted names in quality furniture.

1920

My great-grandfather, Chester Pierce, and his business partner, Bert Kenniston, started a company called C.A. Pierce Company, which repaired, refinished, and upholstered furniture. As time passed, they gradually added employees and comfortably grew the business.

1945

My grandfather, Donald Pierce, joined the company as an upholsterer. Eventually, as a boy growing up around the business, my father, Bob Pierce, showed an interest in furniture and began to do odd jobs around the shop. As any apprentice does, he started at the bottom rung, removing the old finish, upholstery, and, of course, the inevitable and monotonous process of hand sanding every single piece.

By the time he graduated from high school, he had worked in almost every aspect of the furniture renovation business. He had learned the business from the inside out and had nurtured a young man’s dream of owning it someday.

1957

Upon completing high school, my dad joined the Air Force, as many of the young men of his era did. During his four years of service, he spoke frequently with his father about buying the business upon his discharge.

1958

Bert Kenniston retired, and my great-grandfather bought out his half of the business.

1961

My grandfather, Donald, had a brain hemorrhage. This untimely circumstance led to the sale of the business to an outside party, and coincidentally, on the exact day of my dad’s discharge from military service. To his surprise, the new owners asked him to work for them, which he promptly did. And, within three weeks, they asked him to manage the business. Again, he eagerly accepted.

Shortly after completing his first year of employment, and while happily following his father’s road to recovery, together they proposed buying back the company. The new owners agreed to the sale, and during the next three years, Donald and Bob successfully grew the refurbishing business by 100%, even allowing them to buy the real estate on which our shop was then located.

1973

My dad bought my grandfather out, while happily continuing to work until his retirement years later. Bob ran C.A. Pierce for a total of 27 years.

1974

• In addition to running the refinishing business, he started Pierce Furniture. The goal was to start small while slowly building inventory and gradually swapping out shop space for showroom space. My mother, Joan, played a major role in the growth and expansion of Pierce Furniture. Soon, they bought land and built a large new showroom at the current location at 600 Roundwood Drive in Scarborough.
• Business was good, and within a few years, they opened another store in Roundwood and called it Home & Cottage. This was also a great success, and in 1994 they opened a third store in Roundwood, which exclusively sold the nationally-known line of Stickley Furniture.

2004 – Today

Bob & Joan retired, and I bought the company and am proudly carrying on the Pierce reputation for offering superior quality furniture and excellent customer service.

Today, Pierce Furniture remains one of the most trusted family-owned furniture stores in the greater Portland, Maine area. From our showroom at 600 Roundwood Drive in Scarborough, we serve customers across Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, and the surrounding communities — many of whom are second and third-generation customers themselves.

Over 100 years after Chester Pierce first opened his doors, our commitment remains exactly the same: exceptional furniture, honest service, and a family name we’re proud to stand behind.

We’d love to help you find the perfect piece for your home. Stop in and see us, we think you’ll feel the difference that four generations of experience make.