James Eldridge Buys Montana Furniture Store, Plans Move to Northwest Arkansas

James Eldridge, who helped launch Springdale-based handmade furniture manufacturer James+James in 2011, has acquired a small-scale furniture store owned by his father and is planning to relocate it to Northwest Arkansas.

Eldridge recently signed papers to buy Montana Table in Dillon, Montana. The store was renamed Gracie Furniture — named after Eldridge’s sister — on April 24. Peter Eldridge started the company in 2012 by building furniture in his garage and selling it online.

“It’s going through a big overhaul right now,” James Eldridge said. “Many of the designs offered now are going to be changed.”

Eldridge said when the manufacturing equipment is relocated to Northwest Arkansas, the company will hire and train parolees to do the manufacturing.

He said he intends to relocate operations within the next six months. A location has not been determined.

Eldridge said his goal is to lead a change movement that begins in his own company, providing second chances to parolees and felons through a job program structured to help them succeed in becoming functioning members of society once again, or for the first time.

He has been working with Kevin Murphy, deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Community Correction, and other law enforcement officials to develop a program that will streamline and incentivize Arkansas business owners to hire parolees and individuals with a criminal background.

“Many companies across the state say they hire felons,” Eldridge explained. “The unemployment numbers of individuals with a criminal background say otherwise. After connecting with many people in both the government and private industries in Arkansas, I have yet to find a single privately held company that states openly they’ve chosen to hire felons.”

In October 2013, Eldridge sold his half of James+James for an undisclosed amount. Eldridge said an 18-month non-compete agreement he had with James+James recently expired.