Carla’s Furniture Gallery and Gifts in downtown Pembroke has been open for one year and already is planning to expand.

The store at 37 E. Bacon St. will open its expanded area in December after buying property next door, owner Carla Nelson said.

Carla’s Furniture Gallery and Gifts welcomed city leaders and other visitors to its one-year anniversary celebration Wednesday.
“We’re proud to be part of the community,” Nelson said.

Nelson runs the store along with operations manager Franklin Wormsley.

“She’s the brains and I’m the back,” Wormsley said with a smile.

Also on the staff are marketing specialist Carol Duggar and digital media strategist Becki Belcher. Nelson credited Wormsley and Duggar with decorating the store and creating the window displays that have become the store’s calling card.

“Eighty-five percent of the people who come in here say it was because of the windows,” Nelson said.

The customers have been a mix of locals and out-of-towners, she said. Nelson thanked Mayor Mary Warnell and other city officials for their support in helping make the store’s first year a successful one.

Carla’s Furniture Gallery and Gifts is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The store is closed Sunday and Monday.