HICKORY FURNITURE MART’S HISTORY IN THE MAKING

1947

The Mull family opens Hickory Drive-In Theatre, which includes a hot dog stand on the site of what is now known as Hickory Furniture Mart.

1952-1957

The hot dog stand becomes so popular with movie goers that the Mull family decides to open a full-scale restaurant onsite. In 1957 Mull’s Motel & Restaurant becomes a prime meeting place for doing business between furniture manufacturers and distributors.

1960

After meeting in the restaurant’s basement for years, Leroy and Lynn Lail see the need to build a more expansive space for furniture manufacturers to showcase more products to furniture buyers. The Southern Furniture Market is born and wholesale markets now take place every spring and fall.

1985

1960-1980

The Southern Furniture Market grows exponentially in attendance and furniture manufacturers need more space. Additional expansions take place. Leroy and Lynn Lail and her mother Maude Mull celebrate 20 years of growth and success at Hickory Furniture Mart.

Hickory Furniture Mart converts into a retail furniture destination open year-round. Visitors from around the world now have access to the most diverse furniture selections under one roof and receive exclusive industry discounts that have never been offered to the public before.

1992-1998

Mull’s Motel & Restaurant and Hickory Drive-In close to make more room to expand Hickory Furniture Mart. A major renovation takes place on the southeast side of the building and Mull’s Motel transitions into a Holiday Inn Express to offer more rooms and amenities for overnight visitors.

2009-Present

The North Entrance is renovated in 2009 and in 2014 new land onsite is developed into mixed-use retail shops known as Fairbrook Ridge. Several hotels are also built. The next generation of Lails continue to expand their family’s legacy, which their parents started from a simple hot dog stand located inside a drive-in movie theater. Now that land is home to one of the largest furniture destinations in the world.