About JOHNSON FURNITURE CO
A Furniture Store since 1887.
Rudolph DuMenil purchased lot 89 in 1858 and opened a general store. In 1902, DuMenil sold the building to Cuno J. Ludewig and it became the site of C.J. Ludewig Furniture.
In 1929, Ludewig added a second building to the lot just ten feet from the orginal structure. Constructed of steel framing with brick exterior, the interior of the new building boasted a pressed tin ceiling, curly maple floors, and a stunning wooden staircase. Encaustic tile, manufactured in D’Hannis, Texas, graced the entryway.
We love the rich history of this beautiful building and the fact that this site has always been known as a place to find high-quality furniture in central Texas.
Original store circa 1858 (right building) and current building circa 1929 (left building).
New Braunfels Herald - Zeitung newspaper, November 10, 1966.
A new Family
In 1966, Dorothy and Wallace Johnson purchased C.J. Ludewig Furniture and the couple grew the local business along with their two children, changing the name to Johnson Furniture Company. Their daughter, Carol, graduated from Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University) with a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design and minors in construction and photography—an education well-suited for the furniture business. And it wasn’t long before God cleared a path (as God often does) leading Carol back to JFCo where she artfully blended her passion for interior design with personalized customer care.
In 1989, Carol Johnson became the official owner of the store, and the rest…as they say…is history.
More History
Our location is on the New Braunfels historic downtown walking tour.
The back of the original C.J. Ludewig Furniture store. Photographed by Carol Johnson in the summer of 1983.
Rudolph DuMenil's Dry Goods Store which became C.J. Ludewig Furniture Store in 1887.
View of the second floor during the grand opening of the C.J. Ludewig Furniture Co in our current building, circa 1929.
Store front, 1971
Updated store sign, 1984
Dorothy Johnson, Co-Owner, 1971
Updated store sign, 1993
Most recent update to our store sign, 2006
Our store, 2006