Furnishing a City’s History: LaChance Interiors and Gardner’s Chair City Roots

by Chris Coyle

Nearly seventy years ago, brothers Luke and Leo LaChance founded LaChance Interiors in Athol. They later opened a second store on Gardner’s Main Street. Gardner Plaza, the city’s first shopping center, opened on Pearson Boulevard in 1964. Sears town in Leominster opened the same year. Sears then closed its Gardner department store and opened a catalog store in Gardner Plaza. At that time, LaChance, Inc. renovated the space vacated by Sears and became LaChance Furniture and Appliance as they added furniture to their growing product line.

A Kraft Street branch in Gardner opened as the business expanded. Both the Main Street location and the branch have since closed. LaChance used the former Gardner Universalist Church building on the corner of Cross and Lincoln streets as aware house for many years after the church disbanded around 1950 and the steeple removed.

Known today as LaChance Interiors, the business operates at 501 West Broadway in Gardner with a two-story showroom. The Nichols family and later the George G. Bent Company previously owned the building until LaChance purchased it.

The LaChance family sold the business in 2010 to John Rice, who passed away in 2014. William “Bill” Lee currently owns the business and serves as president. He has more than forty years’ experience in the retail home furnishings industry.

The company now exclusively offers furniture. Although LaChance never manufactured anything themselves, they have worked with many vendors in the area, in later years becoming an outlet store for many manufacturers. The firm can offer good pricing because it sources many of their products locally, thus reducing shipping. Everything they sell is proudly made in the US.

Gardner, Chair City or Furniture Capital of New England, earned the nicknames from the high concentration of furniture and chair manufacturing in the city. At one time, Gardner firms—including the Nichols family in partnership with the Stone family—produced more than four million chairs annually. LaChance remains as the last retail store from the era of Gardner’s chair manufacturing legacy, serving Massachusetts and neighboring states. The company prides itself on a strong commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

LaChance Interiors offers a wide selection of furniture for spaces, including bedrooms, dining areas, and offices, all at affordable prices. Their goods feature solid wood and high-quality fabric and leather upholstery. The company asserts its dedication to outstanding customer service and offers delivery.

Visitors to the area can browse the two-story showroom in sight of and a short drive from Route 2. Their well-designed website shows many examples.

LaChance Interiors serves customers daily from all of New England and beyond. Their website proudly proclaims: An American-made Story—Our difference is worth the drive!

LaChance Interiors is open daily.
Sunday 12 P.M.–5 P.M.
Monday through Saturday 9 A.M.–5 P.M.