In l945, John M. and Lora Sowell began a business specializing in selling used wooden ice boxes. Obtaining new merchandise during this wartime era was near to impossible. To keep up with the demand, John made monthly trips to St. Louis and Chicago to bring back those items and whatever else was available. Eventually he found a market in Chicago selling new items. Thus began Sowell’s Home Supply, now Sowell’s Furniture, Inc.
What started as a 3,000 sq.ft. building at 207 West Arch has grown to a showroom area of 38,000 square feet in Downtown Searcy, still at the original address. Sowell’s has remained a family-operated business offering the latest styles in furnishings from name brands like King Hickory, La-Z-boy and Craftmaster. During the years, Sowell’s has furnished generations of Central Arkansas customers, and has every intention of continuing with that goal. What was their beginning advertising statement remains their tradition today: Sowell’s Furniture, “Everything in Furniture”.
