Suniland furniture (pronounced Sunny-land) opened in 1927, coincidentally the same year as competitor Finger Furniture. Originally Suniland operated out of a large house at the corner of Main (known as S. Main at the time) and Anita street. Opening during a boom before the Great Depression Suniland Furniture would outlast many other competitors of the time. This necessitated a new building and in 1930 the store moved a block up the street to 2817 Main. This building would serve as the headquarters, warehouse, and showroom. The new building featured six large bay windows covered by awnings. Blue laws of the time required furniture stores to close on Sunday, window shopping proved to be the only option for customers wishing to browse.
Throughout the years Suniland’s operations would grow, with separate carpet and commercial furniture stores opening under the Suniland banner. By the 1970s Midtown Houston was falling to the same issues Downtown had faced 10 years prior. With most mid to higher income families moving to the suburbs retail was following. Suniland announced their intentions to move to West Houston in 1974, the new store at 2800 Fondren was designed to resemble a luxurious ranch rambler home. Which were at the height of their popularity in Houston at the time. This new showroom featured fully covered walkways around the entire length of the showroom building, improving on the original window shopping design by quite a bit.
Address | Notes |
---|---|
3016 Main St Houston, TX 77002 | 1927-1930 Original Store built as a house |
2817 S Main St Houston, TX 77002 | 1930-1975 Replacement for original store, expanded over the years |
2320 McKinney St Houston, TX 77003 | 1957-1967 Suniland Thrift Furniture Shop |
3705 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77027 | 1958-1974? Suniland Carpet Clearence Center |
2303 Main St Houston, TX 77002 | 1958-1976 Suniland Office Furniture |
6702 Gulf Fwy Houston, TX 77087 | 1965-1973 Suniland Thrift/Wayside Furniture |
7301 Clarewood Dr Houston, TX 77036 | 1970-1994 Wayside Furniture/Suniland Factory Outlet |
7207 Wynnwood Ln Houston, TX 77008 | 1974-1990? Suniland Carpet Warehouse |
2800 Fondren Rd Houston, TX 77063 | 1975-1994 Flagship Location, became Louis Shanks |
235 FM 1960 W, Houston, TX 77090 | 1987-1994 Cypress Station, became Louis Shanks |
14023 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 | 1992-1994 Sugar Creek Store, become Louis Shanks |
I have plenty of Suniland TV commercials on old VHS tapes.
Awesome, if you ever digitize them, send them my way!
Who was the owner of Suniland in 1927
? Sidney Williams
I bought some twin beds that have the Suniland Houston and Nashville, Tn stamp on the bed rails. The are not Jenny Lind style but rather a early spool bed style. They are also higher off the floor than you newer beds. Can you tell me anything as to when they were possibly made?
Unfortunately I don’t have any information on their products!
I bought a three way mirror (3 different sections and I moved to Oklahoma city and IMiss that mirror and I am looking for another one. Can you help me?
Hi Reba!
Unfortunately Suniland has been out of business for many years!