Farmers Home Furniture Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Soperton Rebuilding Project

Farmers Home Furniture held a groundbreaking ceremony for its construction project to rebuild its Soperton location on Sept. 23, close to the one year anniversary of the original store’s destruction by Hurricane Helene.

“This groundbreaking isn’t just about rebuilding a store—it’s about restoring hope and strengthening the bonds that make Soperton special,” said Store Manager Jeff Rogers in a press release. “We’ve been through the storm together, and now we’re rising stronger, ready to serve our community for generations to come.”

The ceremony was held at the original store site on Second Street, with company executives, community leaders and members of the public in attendance. According to a press release, the company “aims to contribute to the local economy, create jobs and foster a sense of prosperity that echoes the spirit of its founder” by rebuilding the store.

Hurricane Helene reached Soperton on the evening of Sept. 26 and persisted until the morning of Sept. 27. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Farmers Home Furniture store was “completely gutted by the winds,” which were reported as reaching up to 75 miles per hour. 

Following the storm, the Soperton location moved to a temporary facility to maintain operations and service to the community. Rogers, with 26 years of experience with the company, led the temporary store during the initial recovery period and throughout the past year.

The company was founded by Sherwin Glass in 1949 and built its first store in Soperton. The company would then branch out into seven other states with 265 locations, with a focus on furniture, décor and appliances.

“Soperton, Georgia, is the very first location where our business started, and we are building it back better than ever,” said Farmers Home Furniture CEO Phillip Fairchild in the release. “This project reflects our dedication to Soperton and the enduring legacy of our founder, Sherwin Glass.”

The project is expected to take six to eight months to complete, with photographs and memorabilia from the original store incorporated into the new location.