SC furniture chain closing after 2 decades

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The Charleston-area furniture chain which owned a store where nine firefighters died four years ago is going out of business.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports (http://bit.ly/sAOjII ) that the Sofa Super Store chain announced Thursday that its two remaining stores in North Charleston and Mount Pleasant will close their doors next week ahead of a liquidation sale.

In a statement, the company said the depressed housing market and sluggish economy forced the decision to close after 20 years in business.

Nine Charleston firefighters were killed in a June 2007 blaze at the company’s flagship location in the city.

Earlier this year, the company agreed to pay roughly $1.9 million to settle claims brought by families of those firefighters.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com