Louis Shanks - Austin

The Shanks family has expanded into the Austin, San Antonio, and Houston markets, with over 300,000 square feet of retail showroom, catering to the upper-end consumer. Major vendors include notables such as Bernhardt, Century, Hancock and Moore, Lexington, Tommy Bahama, Marge Carson, Sherrill, and Stickley. Louis Shanks has become a « One Stop » shopping experience offering all phases of interior furnishings, including carpeting, hardwood and tile floors, window treatments, hand-knotted rugs, mattresses, custom cabinetry, plus beautiful gifts and accessories and original works of art. In addition, we carry a large array of outdoor furnishings. The combination of fine products, along with an excellent staff and hard work has kept Louis Shanks of Texas consistently in the Top 100 Furniture Retailers in the U.S. Today the traditions established by Mr. Shanks are carried on by the next three generations…

Established in 1945.
When starting a fledgling furniture store in the uncertain and chaotic year of 1945, Louis Shanks could hardly have imagined what great successes and milestones that would be associated with his name. Realizing his insights into the furniture industry and desires to excel, he laid the foundation for his first store at 3rd Street and Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas in partnership with Mr. John Stanford. Five years later, this partnership dissolved, and a new partnership was formed with Mr. Harry Meyers. Shanks-Meyers opened on Lamar Boulevard in 1950 and became fully owned by Mr. Shanks when he bought out Mr. Meyers in 1954. Like most companies, Louis Shanks has had to expand and accommodate the needs of a surging market. The Hitchin’ Post was annexed on Lamar Boulevard in 1960. The Anderson Lane location opened in 1974, with entry into the San Antonio market in 1983. The greatest leap was taken in Houston where we added three stores to our Louis Shanks’ family in 1995.

Michael F.
Business Owner
Michael is a 4th generation family owner at Louis Shanks. He has been working with the organization full time for 8+ years. Michael has held a position in every department of the organization. His family has owned and operated Louis Shanks since 1945.

From his humble beginnings at an orphanage in Fort Worth, Texas, Louis Shanks went to work as a furniture factory rep, joining the Kroehler Company immediately upon graduation from high school. At only 17 years of age, Shanks « fibbed » about his youth to obtain the job! After traveling West Texas during the Great Depression, Mr. Shanks grew tired of hot and dusty roads and moved his family to Austin to try the retail end of the spectrum.