RALEIGH, N.C. — Home Comfort Furniture & Mattress Center is closing its four area stores here as the owner retires.

The business was founded in 1985 by John Gunter, the son of the late Gene Gunter, who was a former retailer and president and CEO of Broyhill Furniture from 1981 to 1994.

Gunter hired Planned Furniture Promotions to manage the closing said, which begins Thursday and is expected to run for three months or less, said Tom Liddell, PFP senior vice president. He would not disclose projected sales.

“John’s commitment to cutting edge marketing and customer service is unmatched, and it’s clear why he’s been so successful in the Raleigh market,” Liddell said in a release. “We wish him the best as he transitions to the next phase of his career.”

In the release, Gunter said Home Comfort became one of the area’s “top destinations for stylish, quality furnishings.”

“We focused on great values for name-brand furniture with quick delivery and a high level of service,” he said.

Suppliers to the stores, which average 20,000 square feet, include Ashley, Aspen, Benchcraft, Broyhill, Lane, Liberty, Magnussen, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Spring Air and Vaughan-Bassett.

Home Comfort has three Raleigh showrooms at 7016 Glenwood Ave., 5814 Glenwood Ave. and 5410 Capital Blvd., and a Cary, N.C., store at 1315 Kildaire Farm Road.