BASSETT (WSLS 10) - A long time furniture manufacturer is once again producing in Southside.
On Tuesday, Bassett Furniture showed off its new factory where the Bench Made brand is developed and built. It features chairs, tables, fixtures and cabinets, employing 23 people.
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This is the first time the company is producing furniture in Bassett, where it's headquartered, since May 2007.
Bassett native Tim Hairston was laid off when the Bassett Superior Lines factory closed eight years ago. He was one of the first people to be rehired last October.
"It was unexpected, I didn't see it coming," Hairston said. "When I had the opportunity to come back, I was happy to come back."
Collinsville resident Stacy Worrell saw the writing on the wall, leaving before the plant officially closed. He went into packaging, but quickly realized he missed working with wood.
"I didn't think they would being opening up another plant like this, but I'm glad they did," Worrell said while standing next to cabinet doors he would soon attach. "It's a great opportunity here."
Retailers began selling the Bench Made brand in January. So far, they say it's surpassed expectations.
That success is one reason the company's annual conference was held at its headquarters on Tuesday. 200 retailers from across the county spent the day touring the facility and Bassett's new design studio.
"We said we need to go home and do this in Bassett for a lot of reasons," said Bassett Furniture CEO Rob Spilman. "One, they can watch the furniture being made locally. Two, we have 113 years of heritage here."
That heritage is why Spilman said it's important for the company to help to the town that share its name.
There are no expansion plans, but Spilman said if the Bench Made brand continues to sell, more jobs could be coming in the future.
"All of our people from all over the United States are going to leave our area today proud to be associated with Henry County, Bassett, Virginia and all of the heritage that we've had for the last century."