Used furniture store to close in State College

STATE COLLEGE — After nine years in business, Pete Hosler has decided to close his Westerly Parkway Plaza store, Pete’s Used Furniture. 

According to Hosler, with shoppers doing more online shopping, he is seeing less business. With his rent set to almost triple, he feels he can no longer stay in business. 

“One reason that I am closing is that I am too old to be lifting couches and furniture anymore,” said Hosler. “But, the No. 2 reason is due to younger folk shopping more and more online, where they may pay less for and get a crummy product. When they have supposed free shipping, that’s the way it is going. The Internet has driven stores like mine out of business.”

Hosler said that, over the past two years, his sales have dropped to a quarter of what they were a year ago.

He said that the plans to develop the area with more high-rises for student housing has probably caused his store’s property value to increase, thus the rent increase.

Hosler said it was “a joy” to serve the community and help people find good furniture. He said he plans on liquidating everything in September and will close Wednesday, Oct. 31.