We normally don’t report on the retail furniture market…but this came a s a surprise as this was announced today….Linder’s Furniture…a large retailer in the Southern California furniture landscape…announced it was closing it’s doors after they complete a massive Going Out of Business Sale…starting this Thursday…

A sign of the times and a “victim” of the collapsing housing market in the Southern California landscape?

Here’s the announcement:

Linder’s Furniture to close following going-out-of-business sale

By Clint Engel — Furniture Today, November 15, 2011

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Linder’s Furniture, based here, announced today it will close its doors for good following a going-out-of-business sale beginning Thursday.

In a press release, the company said the sale of more than $20 million worth of inventory will be held in all 10 Southern California locations – including its higher-end Legacy Furniture in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The sales are being managed by a joint venture between liquidators Gordon Bros. Group and APJL Consulting.

The company didn’t say how long the sales are expected to run, only that they will continue “until the entire inventory is sold.”

“Considering the holiday season has just started, we expect this be a very short sale, and popular items will sell out fast,” said Craig Venezia, Gordon Bros. spokesman.

Sources have told Furniture/Today, the sales are expected to continue into early next year.

Linder’s entered into an alternative to bankruptcy called a “General Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors” Nov. 2, and talk of a complete liquidation has been circulating the industry since the High Point Market.

“Despite our best efforts, these turbulent times have left us with no choice but to wind down our operations,” said Eric Foucrier, president at Linder’s. “We believe this decision is in the best interest of our customers, employees and creditors.”

Phil Linder, the Top 100 company’s founder and chairman, said in the release that the decision “marks the end of our 31-year history.”

“We very much appreciate the loyalty our customers have shown us over the years,” he said.

Linder’s was No. 81 on Furniture/Today’s Top 100 with estimated 2010 furniture, bedding and accessories sales of $60.1 million at its 11 Southern California stores. Among its key vendors noted earlier this year were Legacy Classic, Fine Furniture Design, Sealy, Universal and Wynwood.