Porters of Racine

Information may not be reliable

After 152 years of serving the good people of Racine, we are cleaning house. We've scoured our attics, basements, ofices, and warehouse...come and discover the treasures that we've found... it will be your final GOOD (BUY) BYE!
Porters of Racine was founded in 1857 providing furniture of distinction well before Abraham Lincoln was President of the United States. 2010 Porters of Racine has closed after 153 years.
Porters was located in downtown Racine, WI, just steps from Lake Michigan. We had been a fixture in downtown Racine since 1857 and we had watched the area's rebirth into a thriving tourist district. In addition to the beauty of the lakefront, there are specialty shops, art galleries, restaurants, a world-class art museum and several cafes and coffee shops. We were only 25 miles from the Wisconsin/Illinois border and 30 miles from downtown Milwaukee. Exit from I-94 on Highway 20, east nine miles to Sixth and Wisconsin.
Porters carried furniture lines such as Stickley, Henredon, Baker, Harden and other high-end names that drew shoppers to Racine from Milwaukee and the Chicago area, Caron said. The store was one of the first furniture stores to display products in room settings, and the Porters Guild Gallery in years past was a destination for women's group outings.
Porters had it roots in a small cabinet shop run by Allen Porter. His son, William Allen Porter, expanded the business into a furniture store in 1857.
The store was sold to Simon Gottlieb in 1919. The Waters family ownership dates to 1960, when H. Robert Waters joined in partnership with Gottlieb's widow after his death.
Porters moved to its downtown Racine location in the 1930s, when Gottlieb began buying old buildings and remodeling them into a store. With additions in later years, the store grew to 80,000 square feet.
Porters is Closed.
Porters is now closed. After more than 150 years, we're grateful to all our customers. It's been our pleasure to serrve you.
Porters of Racine