Star Furniture – Now with Buffett a Century Later

With a century-long history, Star Furniture is a solid business, earning membership in Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

History of Star Furniture Company in Houston:

1912: Joe Rosen, Max Frank, and Sidney Rubin founded what would later go by Star Furniture. These three men came to the United States in search of a better life. They pooled their resources together to buy a horse and buggy to deliver furniture in Houston, Texas.

The company originally went by Rosen Frank Furniture Company, but after Boris Wolff, a Russian immigrant, bought a quarter interest in the store, he renamed it Star Furniture in 1924. Wolff was a visionary leader who helped to grow Star Furniture into a successful company. As the original owners retired, Wolff gradually acquired controlling interest in Star Furniture.

1924: Boris Wolff, a Russian immigrant, buys a quarter interest in the store.

1950s: the Wolff family own a controlling interest in Star Furniture. Boris Wolff passes down his share of the company to his children, Melvyn Wolff and Shirley Wolff Toomim. Melvyn Wolff becomes president of the company and leads it through a period of growth and expansion.

1962: Melvyn Wolff becomes President of Star Furniture.

1997: The Wolff family owned the company until 1997, when they sold it to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

By 2000, Star Furniture was the oldest continuously operating furniture store in Texas. Under Berkshire Hathaway, Star maintains more than a ten locations in the state. The company remains a good corporate citizen, supporting many worthwhile charitable causes.