TREVINO'S FURNITURE: YES WE ARE OPEN, HAVE NO COVID-19

Special to El  Rrun-Rrun

All of the furniture stores in town are closed.

Whether it's Lack's, Furniture Row, or even Gonzalez Furniture, they are all closing in compliance with  only the state and county orders that only essential services can be be open to the public implemented by the City of Brownsville and Cameron County.

Everyone, that is except for Trevino Furniture on 1552 Palm Blvd, # 8, at the Palm Village Shopping Center. The store at one time was owned by the late Eddie Trevino, the father of current Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. and is believed to remain in family ownership. (After repeated tries, we were finally able to reach Trevio, and he said the store - with his family's name - was sold to the current owners about 2 years ago.)


Trevino has been unrelenting in his crusade against COVID-19. He first instituted a curfew, and then ordered shelter in place and warned people of going out into the street except for the most essential chores like getting medical help or buying groceries.

Even funerals where there are more than 10 mourners in a group have been prohibited.

It has gotten to the point where the judge has been on the verge of exploding in anger during televised news segments where he rails against people violating the shelter in place order.

What is so essential about buying furniture?

Will you absolutely die if you can't get a brand new lavender sofa right now?

(Apparently, the fact that the store contains a finance company inside it exempts it from closing, banking being considered an essential service of the shelter in place edict. Given the usurious interest rates of finance companies, it might provide an essential public service to close them, too.)

A worker at the store who answered the phone said the store will remain open from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Gonzalez furniture explains why it closed its doors this way:

"As a family owned company at Gonzalez Furniture, our priority is the health and well-being of our customers, family, and staff. We have made the hard decision of temporarily closing our stores until further notice.

By closing our doors we will be doing our part in our community to encourage social distancing and staying in quarantine until it deems safe by the CDC and Texas government.

Customers may still make their payment over the phones or online without any additional fees. Below are the times and days we will be available to take your payment over the phone and our website will remain up 24/7."