Upscale furniture manufacturer Bernhardt Furniture Co. has acquired a 108,000-square- foot building in Cherryville for manufacturing chairs and sofas.

The 112-year-old Lenoir-based company expects to employ up to 180 - 200 workers within two years to keep pace with growing demand for its residential upholstery. Sales in that division grew 60 percent in 1999 and 70 percent in 1998.

"We went on a four-to-five month search for a building and labor force, and were fortunate to find both in Cherryville," said William Howard III, Bernhardt Vice President of Human Resources. The acquired building on West Academy Street formerly housed Carolina International Textiles (CIT).

Howard attributes Bernhardt's residential upholstery growth to "not being a me-too manufacturer. What you see in our line you don't see from other manufacturers. Our customer base is definitely upper end, but we are pereceived as a value, coming in a little under the competition. We are also doing things from a production standpoint, such as fabric selection and a three-week delivery cycle, that give us advantages."

Cherryville officials enthusiastically welcomed the announcement for their town, which has been hard hit by business closings and departures in the past five years. "We’re delighted that this fine, established company has selected Cherryville," said Mayor Wade Stroupe. "We’re in a central geographic location and a good area to draw this kind of workforce."

Bernhardt Furniture sells at places like Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and Macy’s. Its dramatic ads appear in top national magazines. The family-owned business has about 2,500 employees in 12 locations in Lenoir, Shelby and now Cherryville.