Consumers are cautious about extra spending right now, and furniture businesses have been paying the price.

Some dealers are choosing to ride out the storm. But others are getting creative.

Nancy Kitchener says she had an epiphany in October.

"I realized that 86 percent of my sales that month happened outside the store," she said.

So, last week, Kitchener closed her West Side Furnishings & Design store on Spring Forest Road in Raleigh.

She will reopen today at 1004 Wake Forest Road as simply West Side Design, forgoing the retail business to focus on interior design for homes and businesses.

"Retail in general is just tough right now," Kitchener said. "In the last year, there's just been no bottom to it."

Here's hoping we find the bottom soon.

Hall of Fame football coach Don Shula is partnering with the Sheraton Chapel Hill to open a restaurant named Shula's 347 -- after his 347 professional victories. There are four Shula's 347 restaurants: in Philadelphia; Providence, R.I.; Los Angeles and Norfolk, Va. The one in Chapel Hill is expected to open this summer.

In Raleigh, Gallery of Wigs has opened at 3434 Edwards Mill Road. The store stocks 400 wigs and offers private fitting rooms for women and men who are experiencing hair loss.

In Raleigh's Cameron Village, The Grape wine shop and tapas bar closed. There's no word yet on what will happen to the space. ... Also, White House Black Market, The Cameron Bar & Grill and New Palm Avenue will all open in about three weeks.

In Zebulon, the Wal-Mart Supercenter opens Wednesday.

Also, the Zebulon Crossings shopping center being built around the Wal-Mart has signed leases with ABC phones, Shoe Show, Sally Beauty Supply, salon Ellas & Ellos, Express Tax Returns, GameStop and Wang's Asian Bistro. They will all open this spring or summer. The project developer, Tricor Development, has also sold the corner lot to Murphy USA, which will open a gas station there this summer.

As I mentioned in November, Edward McKay Used Books & More in Raleigh is moving. The store will be closed starting Monday and March 3-7 and will reopen March 8 at 3514 Capital Blvd.

Other items: In Clayton, Mexican restaurant El Sabor de Oaxaca is open at 226 E. Main St. ... In Durham, the On the Border restaurant on U.S. 15-501 closed. The company said the decision was based on "a number of evaluative criteria." ... In Raleigh, Meineke will take over the automotive space in the Kmart on Capital Boulevard in late March or early April. ... And in Cary, Massage Heights, a member-based massage spa, will open in May at Crossroads. ... Also in Cary, the Aldi discount grocery store is open at 2303 NW Maynard Road.