Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Watson’s Acquires Allstate Home Leisure
May 3,
2022 by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry 
Watson’s, a retailer of home recreation products and home furnishings, has announced the acquisition of Detroit-based Allstate Home Leisure, an outdoor furnishings, pools, spas, and home recreation products specialty retailer. The acquisition also includes Allstate’s Sol Casual and Carlton Billiards brands.
The purchase of Allstate Home Leisure further increases Watson’s market share in the home recreation and home furnishings spaces. Through this acquisition, Watson’s will add five greater Detroit retail locations (Ann Arbor, Novi, Livonia, Rochester, and Sterling Heights) and 1 distribution center to the company’s current corporate and franchise footprint of 25 full-line and accessory locations.
In operation for over 50 years, Watson's is one of the largest retailers of home recreation products and home furnishings in the nation, featuring outdoor furnishings, indoor furnishings, home recreation products, pools, spas, and more.
“We have had our eyes on the Detroit market for quite some time,” says Erik Mueller, CEO of Watson’s. “The Allstate Home Leisure culture and business model ended up being the right fit and aligned with our long-term growth strategy. We believe in Detroit and are excited to partner with the entire Allstate Home Leisure team to continue to help provide fun and relaxation to the families and homes in Detroit.”
“We know that our customers and employees are in good hands with Watson’s,” says Shawna Jordan, daughter of Allstate’s founder. “After 30 years as a family business, the team at Allstate is excited to take the business to the next level under the Watson’s family of companies.”
Allstate Home Leisure will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Watson’s, initially integrated as Allstate Home Leisure by Watson’s, with a full transition to complete Watson’s branding over the next 18-24 months. Customers will continue to receive the same high-quality products and customer service they have come to expect from both Watson’s and Allstate Home Leisure.
Cincinnati-based partners assisting in the acquisition included Silverstone Capital Advisors, Clark Schaefer Hackett, and Katz Teller.