Traverse City’s Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings Welcomes New Owner

Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings, a fixture of Traverse City retail since 1960, announced a change in ownership this month as longtime employee Amanda Eshleman became the store’s fourth owner effective Jan. 1, 2026. The transition keeps the historic business under local stewardship and reinforces continuity for employees, suppliers, and regular customers.

The store, now marking 66 years in business, said Eshleman rose through multiple roles during her tenure before assuming ownership. A community celebration is planned for Jan. 23 that will include a re-creation of the original 1960 grand-opening photo, a symbolic nod to the store’s legacy in downtown Traverse City and the broader Grand Traverse County retail landscape.

Ownership transitions at legacy small businesses carry outsized local economic significance. For long-established retailers like Golden-Fowler, a stable handoff typically preserves existing jobs and customer relationships, helps maintain steady foot traffic in commercial corridors, and sustains contracts with local and regional suppliers. In practical terms, that continuity can mean fewer immediate disruptions to payroll, fewer vacancies in downtown storefronts, and a maintained contribution to local sales tax revenues.

The change at Golden-Fowler comes amid a broader wave of small-business ownership transitions in the region this month, underscoring an ongoing cycle as founding generations retire and internal succession becomes a preferred path. Internal transfers to longtime employees, as in this case, are often viewed by economists and small-business advisers as lower-risk than external sales: institutional knowledge is retained, and the new owner is familiar with customer preferences, inventory strategies, and vendor relationships.

For customers and neighbors, the immediate impact will be visible at the store’s doors and on the sales floor. Planned community events such as the Jan. 23 photo recreation are intended to signal both celebration and continuity, inviting longtime patrons to reaffirm their support and introducing new residents to a locally owned retailer with deep roots.

Looking ahead, the transition offers a modest economic hedge for Grand Traverse County against the turnover that can hollow out downtowns. Sustained local ownership typically smooths transitions, but sustained success will depend on adapting to changing retail patterns while preserving the elements that made Golden-Fowler a local mainstay for more than six decades.

Residents can expect the celebration later this month and should watch for any announcements from the store about new hours, services, or community partnerships as Eshleman settles into the role. The handoff keeps a piece of Traverse City retail history in town and signals cautious optimism for the resilience of small, locally owned businesses here.