by The company is celebrating its 80th year in business in 2026
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s a new era at Jacksonville Furniture Mart. This year, the retailer will celebrate its 80th year in business, and in January, Sarah Cantor was named president, marking the pinnacle of her 30-year career at the family-owned business located in Jacksonville, Florida.
“This is my family’s legacy,” Cantor said. “I’ve literally grown up in the business. I’ve spent the last three decades learning every layer of the business.”
Cantor, who graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in architecture, held various roles at Jacksonville Furniture Mart, including as a design coordinator and manager; senior designer and manager; and, most recently, as a corporate officer.
Recently, Cantor and her brother Joseph Gavronsky purchased the business from their uncle, who started the business with their father. Now, with full ownership, they split the duties. Cantor handles the showroom, customer service, daily operations and the salespeople, while Gavronsky takes care of human resources and delivery logistics.
“We make a good team,” Cantor said. “I do feel it’s a new role for me, even though it’s not a new role, but it’s kind of more like the stewardship of having this business now that I have all these employees. It’s more of a responsibility that I feel.”
For Cantor, stewardship isn’t just about preserving the business; it’s also about preserving its personality. Cantor believes Jacksonville Furniture Mart stands out from other retailers because it embraces a bit of whimsy. Where some furniture retailers take after art galleries, with white walls and ample space between products, Cantor said Jacksonville Furniture Mart resembles more of an antiques store.
“It’s kind of a treasure trove of interesting, strange objects. Each time you come in here, you’ll always see something new,” Cantor added.
Unlike some other stores, Jacksonville Furniture Mart sells merchandise right off its floor. According to Cantor, this approach creates a constantly changing showroom with floor displays reworked almost weekly.
“We have a lot of people that come in, like regulars, who just want to see what’s new,” Cantor added. Jacksonville Furniture Mart also offers design services and features a team of design consultants, allowing shoppers to create their ideal space.
Behind the colorful and evolving merchandising displays, however, is a business navigating a retail industry in flux. Although Cantor is excited to step into her new role as a co-owner and operator, she is also realistic about the challenges the home furnishings industry is facing.
“I feel like it’s a lot more footwork in buying because the whole climate seems to have changed,” Cantor said. “We have to stay adaptable and keep treating the customers right and remembering that the people are what is most important. The people we work with, the people who buy stuff, the people who come in here. I think that’s all you need to stay in business and keep it all going.”
Cantor’s vision for the future is clear: “I would love for us to become known for being the premier design store from Jacksonville for all the customers and designers and being a place that people want to come to see cool things.”
