by Derek Lin, an owner of Shelter Home and JGW Designs, plans to eventually move both companies to the building
HIGH POINT — Derek Lin, an owner and president of JGW Furniture and an owner of sister company Shelter Home, has purchased the former Forbidden City showroom downtown that was formerly occupied by Lifestyle Enterprise.
Lin and his sister Mei Mei Lin recently acquired the 28,000-square-foot property at 320 Commerce Ave., which had been on the market since Lifestyle agreed to vacate the building and move into its own building at 100 Green Drive.
Lin said he has had his eye on the showroom for some time and decided to purchase the building because of its location, size and recognition among buyers attending market. Because of its design based on the Forbidden City in Beijing, it has long been known as the Forbidden City showroom, a moniker that Lifestyle had long attached to the structure.
Lin said he plans to move Shelter Home from the space it occupies in another building he owns downtown at 233 S. Main St. in time for the April 2027 market. It will showcase its line of bedroom, dining and upholstery, along with outdoor furniture, a category it plans to enter in the near future.
The business partners also plan to relocate JGW into the same building, but that company has another two years left on its lease at 300 S. Centennial St., Lin said.
In addition to its location and familiarity to retail customers, he said the site also has good parking. However, he said the building will need upgrades including a new roof along with new flooring. The plan is also to paint the building itself white, or a tone that is lighter than its clay red exterior. He also noted that plans include upgrades to the kitchen and new walls/room dividers to update the overall showroom layout.
Most importantly, he said, he plans to keep the building designed after the Forbidden City, which he says is a familiar landmark to buyers at market.
“If we say the Forbidden City has reopened again, that will be our theme for the April 2027 market,” he said. “That will draw a lot of attention to it and will draw a lot of buyers. Everybody knows where the Forbidden City is.”
He said he and his sister paid for the property in full, with the hope that Shelter Home and JGW Home eventually would both be in the same building.
“That is the purpose,” he said.
