There wasnt the usual long line of shoppers waiting outside whenever Jordans Furniture opens a new store. But given the current pandemic, the crowd that showed up for the grand opening of the stores new store last month in South Portland, Maine, was nice to see. Store officials did not report opening weekend numbers but believe traffic will only grow in the coming weeks.

Given the past four months, its easy for the industry to forget that Jordans, a New England furniture fixture, announced more than a year ago it was expanding into Maine. Jordans announcement came around the same time fellow Home Furnishings Association member Bernie & Phyls, another Massachusetts-based chain,said it, too, would open a store in the state. Both were hoping to capitalize on a strong real estate market in Maine, with homebuyers splurging on furnishings for their new digs.

Bernie & Phyls moved quickly, taking over a building in South Portland that was occupied by Toys R Us. Eliot Tatelman, president of Jordans, was more deliberate in his search before settling on and gutting a former Bon-Ton department store space in The Maine Mall.

Company officials said the 120,000-square-foot store is limiting occupancy to 500 customers at a time, and customers are being asked to wear masks.

Tatelman said the design of the store, overseen by his two sons, didnt have to be modified greatly because of the pandemic, though there are plexiglass shields at the customer service desk. Theres certainly plenty of room in the store for distancing. Jordans two-story location is the largest furniture store in Maine and includes an 8,000-square-foot Furniture Factory Outlet. The store also includes Jordans signature Sleep Lab, which showcases more than 90 different mattresses and name brands.

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Jordan's opens its first store in Maine - Home Furnishings Association