Jerome's
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA family-owned Southern California furniture retailer known for warehouse-style stores, mattresses, and straightforward competitive pricing.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Jerome's is a family-owned furniture retail chain based in San Diego, California, serving Southern California through a network of stores and digital shopping tools. The business began in 1954, when Jim Navarra and two partners opened a furniture store called Strep's Warehouse. Navarra became the sole owner in 1960, and in 1968 renamed the operation Jerome's Furniture Warehouse after his son, Jerome. The name was subsequently shortened in common usage to Jerome's. The company became closely associated with Jerome "Jerry" Navarra, who initially considered pursuing medical school. After completing a business degree at San Diego State University, he spent six months working at the family store in 1970. He ultimately chose to remain in the furniture business and gradually assumed responsibility for the company. Navarra also became the brand's public face: he first appeared in a Jerome's television advertisement in 1973 and, according to the company's historical coverage, had appeared in more than 4,000 commercials by 2012. Later advertising incorporated additional members of the Navarra family, extending the business's family identity into a third generation. Jerome's expanded from its original San Diego operation during the 1980s and 1990s, adding stores in San Marcos, Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Scripps Ranch. The original downtown San Diego store relocated to West Morena Boulevard in 2000. From 2009 through 2013, the retailer added four more locations and began extending its reach into the Los Angeles market. By 2012, the company was reported to sell approximately one out of every four mattresses purchased in San Diego County. In 2013, it was described as the second-fastest-growing furniture retailer in the United States. The retailer's offer centers on furniture for residential interiors, including mattresses and bedroom, living-room, and related home furnishings. Its merchandising approach has emphasized offering competitive prices on a standard basis rather than relying on frequent promotional discount cycles. Jerome's has also offered complimentary design assistance, positioning service and convenience alongside its warehouse-oriented value proposition. In 2019, the company added a free digital floor-planning tool to its website, giving customers a way to visualize room layouts before purchase. By 2015, Jerome's had 11 stores, reported turnover of more than $147 million for that period, and had reached a top-fifty ranking among furniture retailers. The business remains privately held and family-oriented, with its geographic identity concentrated in Southern California rather than built around national or international expansion. Its principal competitive characteristics are value-focused furniture retailing, mattress specialization, local brand recognition, family ownership, in-store design support, and a long-running founder-family advertising presence.
History
Jerome's traces its origins to 1954, when Jim Navarra and two partners established a furniture store called Strep's Warehouse. Navarra became the sole owner in 1960. Eight years later, he renamed the business Jerome's Furniture Warehouse in honor of his son Jerome, creating the name that would define the family enterprise. Jerome "Jerry" Navarra did not initially intend to make furniture retail his career. After earning a business degree from San Diego State University, he spent six months assisting at the store in 1970. The experience changed his plans, and he remained with the company, eventually taking responsibility for its development. From 1973 onward, Navarra also served as a prominent advertising personality for the retailer, appearing in television commercials and helping establish a recognizable local identity. Family members later appeared in the brand's advertising as the business moved into a third generation of Navarra involvement. The first major expansion phase occurred between 1980 and 1990, when Jerome's added four San Diego-area branches in San Marcos, Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Scripps Ranch. In 2000, the original downtown store moved to West Morena Boulevard. A second expansion phase ran from 2009 to 2013 and added four further locations, allowing the chain to begin serving the Los Angeles market in addition to its established San Diego-area customer base. Jerome's developed a strong position in mattresses as well as broader home furnishings. In 2012, it was reported to account for about one-quarter of mattress sales in San Diego County. By 2013, the retailer was described as the second-fastest-growing furniture retailer in the United States. These indicators reflected the strength of its regional rather than national model: a concentrated store network, local advertising, family ownership, and a value-oriented retail proposition. The company's operating approach has included standard competitive pricing rather than repeated periods of artificial discounting. It has also offered free design services, supporting customers with room planning and furniture selection. In 2015, Jerome's was reported to have 11 stores, turnover exceeding $147 million, and a position among the fifty largest furniture retailers. The financial figure is historical and should not be treated as a current revenue disclosure. Digital tools became part of the customer experience in 2019, when Jerome's began offering a free floor-planning application through its website. The tool complemented the retailer's physical-store and design-service model by allowing shoppers to experiment with room arrangements online. Jerome's remains a private, family-owned Southern California furniture chain whose identity rests on affordable home furnishings, mattress expertise, local market concentration, and the long-standing public presence of the Navarra family.
- 2019
Free digital floor planner introduced
[1]The retailer adds a free online floor-planning tool to its website.
- 2015
Chain reaches 11 stores
[1]Jerome's is reported to have 11 stores, more than $147 million in turnover, and a top-fifty furniture-retailer ranking.
- 2013
Jerome's is described as a fast-growing furniture retailer
[1]The company is reported as the second-fastest-growing furniture retailer in the United States after expanding into the Los Angeles market.
- 2012
Reported leading position in San Diego mattress sales
[1]Jerome's is reported to sell approximately one in four mattresses in San Diego County.
- 2009
Second expansion phase starts
[1]The company begins adding four locations over the following several years, extending toward the Los Angeles market.
- 2008
Retailer of the Year recognition
[1]Jerome's wins the Western Home Furnishings Association's annual Retailer of the Year Award.
- 2000
Original downtown store relocates
[1]The original downtown location moves to West Morena Boulevard.
- 1980
San Diego-area expansion begins
[1]Jerome's begins a decade-long expansion that adds branches in San Marcos, Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Scripps Ranch.
- 1973
Jerry Navarra begins appearing in television advertising
[1]Navarra becomes the public face of the retailer through its television commercials.
- 1970
Jerry Navarra joins the family business
[1]After completing a business degree, Jerome "Jerry" Navarra begins working at the store and decides to remain in the furniture business.
Products and positioning
Discount and value-oriented furniture retailing with competitive everyday pricing, warehouse-style merchandising, mattress specialization, and complimentary design support.
Sleep products
Mattresses
Mattresses are a central part of Jerome's retail proposition. The company developed a particularly strong regional reputation in this category, with historical reporting indicating that it sold approximately one-quarter of mattresses in San Diego County in 2012. The available reference material does not identify specific mattress brands, models, or current assortment details.
Home furniture
Residential furniture
Jerome's sells furniture for common residential spaces, including living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, and related home settings. Its stores use a value-oriented, warehouse-style retail model, while the company also provides complimentary design assistance. Specific current collections and manufacturer brands are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Digital shopping service · 2019
Digital floor planner
Introduced in 2019, Jerome's free online floor-planning tool helps customers visualize room layouts and furniture placement. It extends the retailer's in-store design-support proposition into a digital format.
Brand decisions
2019
Add a free digital floor plannerOtherBackground
Furniture shoppers often need to assess scale and placement before completing a purchase.
Action taken
Jerome's introduced a free floor-planning tool on its website.
Aftermath
The tool complemented the company's existing free design services with an online planning experience.
2009
Expand toward Los AngelesStrategyBackground
Jerome's had established a store base in the San Diego metropolitan area and sought additional Southern California reach.
Action taken
The company added four locations between 2009 and 2013, opening access to the Los Angeles market.
Aftermath
By 2013, the retailer was described as one of the fastest-growing furniture retailers in the United States.
2000
Relocate the original storeStrategyBackground
The original downtown San Diego location had served as the starting point for the business.
Action taken
Jerome's moved the original store to West Morena Boulevard.
Aftermath
The relocation formed part of the company's continuing development of its San Diego-area store network.
1968
Adopt the Jerome's nameStrategyBackground
The family furniture business had operated as Strep's Warehouse since its founding in 1954.
Action taken
Jim Navarra renamed the store Jerome's Furniture Warehouse after his son Jerome.
Aftermath
The new name became the basis of the long-running regional retail brand.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/jeromes · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled