BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Last September , over 35 Ashley Furniture customers contacted ABC 23, saying that they had paid the full amount but still had been waiting for months to receive their furniture. Ashley corporate officials took over the store weeks ago and will pay for the orders that the local franchise was unable to meet. The company stands to lose several hundred thousand dollars in fulfilling those orders. Officials said they are doing it to keep local confidence in the Ashley name.

Officials also told ABC 23 that they wanted to keep the Bakersfield Ashley Home store open for business and they are looking for a new owner. The amount of new sales may determine if the local Ashley home store will stay open for business or close up shop.

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The Ashley cooperation has rented a 50,000-square-foot building in southwest Bakersfield to ship customers furniture orders. The warehouse was empty at the beginning of the week but now it is filled with Ashley product. Friday employees were stocking the furniture product from corporate. Those orders will be shipped out in a few days. The first set of customers got their furniture delivery on Thursday.

One customer told ABC 23 that she was grateful to corporate for stepping in and fulfilling her order. If Ashley corporate washed their hands of the Bakersfield store, customers would not get their furniture at all and would have to file a complaint with the District Attorneys office and go after the old owner, who is broke, said one Ashley official.

The company promised that all their customers will have their orders by April 24.