HOUSTON – Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale announced plans Thursday to reopen his furniture store's main location after a four-alarm fire destroyed its warehouse, KPRC Local 2 reported.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the fire at Gallery Furniture's warehouse at 6006 North Freeway on May 21 was intentionally set.
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The fire gutted the warehouse, destroying it and the millions of dollars worth of furniture inside. Damage is estimated to be between $15 million and $25 million.
The fire did not spread to the store's main showroom, but the sprinklers inside it went off and caused extensive damage.
Dozens of customers were inside the showroom when the fire started. No one was injured.
McIngvale said he plans to reopen the showroom on July 4. He asked residents with ideas of how to improve the store to send an e-mail through Gallery Furniture's Web site.
"At Gallery Furniture, we are excited about our future," he said. "We're strong, we're stable and we look forward to being able to reopen the world's greatest furniture store."
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Gallery Furniture has a second location, 2411 Post Oak Blvd., which has remained open. The store has opened a temporary warehouse.
McIngvale said he and his staff have already started making preparations for the reopening. His insurance company gave him a $3 million down-payment on his insurance claim.
He took reporters on a tour of the warehouse and showroom on Thursday.
"In this room was about 600 Tempurpedic mattresses. The only thing left is steel from the adjustable bases," he said. "We are moving forward out here with construction. We're moving forward with getting rid of the furniture that was damaged."
McIngvale said the store and warehouse would reopen in phases. He hopes to have the project completed by his 59th birthday in February.
Since the fire, McIngvale has had to cut hours for his employees. However, no one has been laid off.
"The employees are committed and there are a lot of people depending on this for their livelihood," said Carolym Phillips, a Gallery Furniture employee.
McIngvale said he wanted to thank the more than 120 firefighters from 31 HFD stations that responded to the warehouse fire. As part of the Adopt-A-Fire Station Program, McIngvale is providing each station with a $10,000 gift certificate so they can pick out new furniture and electronics.
"We are forever indebted to the wonderful people at the Houston Fire Department," McIngvale said.
He also announced plans to provide furniture for a new center that handles the remains of fallen soldiers in Dover, Delaware.
One of McIngvale's friends, University of Houston women's basketball coach Joe Curl, said he was shocked to learn the cause of the fire was arson.
"He's just given so much back to the community," Curl said. "When that happened to the store, I was going to be there for him."
Curl pitched in Thursday by helping cook lunch for Gallery Furniture employees.
"I know he has such a passion for his work," Curl said. "If everyone on the planet had the passion he had, we'd have a better world."
Investigators said they have followed up on about 100 leads.
"I think this entire revitalization is going to be a triumph of the human spirit," McIngvale said. "And a triumph, at the end of the day, of good over evil. We hope that out of this evil act that was performed out here, much good will come."
McIngvale said he has not hired an attorney and supports the arson investigation whole-heartedly.
"I have not retained an attorney. My wife and I have not retained an attorney because we're not guilty of this crime. We had nothing to do with it. I would rather cut off my two hands than burn down my life's work of 28 years," McIngvale said. "Whoever did this needs to be brought to justice and will be brought to justice. God help them."