Even though home sales in the Midlands have been growing steadily, local furniture retailers are experiencing a roller coaster of a market.

Some furniture stores and retailers say they are faring well, while others say they are not.

Kincaid Furniture has become the latest national retailer to close its Columbia store, while management at newcomer Rooms To Go boasts that “business is great.”

Staff at Kincaid Furniture Co.’s headquarters in Hudson, N.C., were not available for comment Monday. However, the owner of the company managing the liquidation at Kincaid’s Columbia, Greenville and Charleston stores said sales there were not as strong as at other Kincaid stores.

Kincaid has more than 20 owner-operated stores and 140 in-store galleries nationwide.

Michael Smith of M.G. Smith Inc. said the liquidation of the Columbia store, on Harbison Boulevard, began Nov. 8. He said his company also is helping Kincaid fulfill customers’ furniture orders.

The Kincaid closure comes a few weeks after Atlanta-based Storehouse announced the closure of its locations nationwide, including a Devine Street store, South Carolina’s only one. The store is nearing the completion of its liquidation sale, staff says.

Meanwhile, Tracy Fuller, office manager for Ashley Furniture on Harbison Boulevard, said the store was experiencing a lull in sales but that its management is hopeful that once the holiday shopping season is in full swing, sales will increase.

Sales “are slowing down — considerably in the past two months,” Fuller said Monday.

In a market were home sales are not slowing, one of the reasons for a slump, Fuller said, is that the furniture market is becoming more and more competitive.

At least three national furniture retailers have opened new stores in the Midlands this year.

Newcomer Rooms To Go at the Village at Sandhill in Northeast Richland has achieved favorable sales, according to its management.

“Business is better than we expected.” they said.

Reach Fulton at (803) 771-8659.

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