<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit 10.9
                                  ------------

Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Larry C. Genareo dated October
16, 2000.

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

         AGREEMENT, dated as of this 16th day of October, 2000, by and between
BUSH INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation having its principal place of
business at One Mason Drive, Jamestown, New York 14702 (the "Company"), and
Larry C. Genareo, residing at 972 Hunt Road, Lakewood, New York, 14750 (the
"Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company considers the maintenance of a sound and vital
management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders;

         WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company in an
executive capacity and has developed an intimate and thorough knowledge of
certain aspects of the Company's business methods and operations;

         WHEREAS, the retention of the Executive's services for and on behalf of
the Company is materially important to the preservation and enhancement of the
value of the Company's business; and

         WHEREAS, the Company is desirous of continuing to employ the Executive
and the Executive is willing to continue to serve in the employ of the Company
in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises set forth
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive
hereby agree as follows:

<PAGE>

     1.   Employment. The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the
          ----------
Executive agrees to remain in the employ of the Company during the Term, as
hereunder defined, of this Agreement, and in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth below.

     2.   Term of Agreement. The term (the "Term") of this Agreement shall
          -----------------
commence as of October 16, 2000, and shall terminate one day prior to the third
anniversary of such date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth or unless the Term is automatically
extended as provided below. Upon the termination of the then current Term of
this Agreement, the Term shall automatically be extended for an additional
one-year period, unless the Company provides the Executive with written notice
to the contrary at least sixty (60) days prior to such date that the Term would
otherwise expire. In the event the Company provides such written notice of
non-renewal to the Executive at least sixty (60) days prior to such date that
the Term would otherwise expire, the Term hereof shall not be renewed, but the
then current Term shall remain in effect until such date that the Term would
otherwise have expired.

     3.   Position and Responsibilities. During the period of employment, the
          -----------------------------
Executive agrees to serve the Company and the Company agrees to employ the
Executive in an executive capacity, with the title set forth on Exhibit A,
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

     4.   Compensation. For all services rendered by the Executive to or for the
          ------------
Company and its affiliates in all capacities during the Term, and for the
undertakings as to Confidential Information and Competition set forth in
Sections 7 and 8 below, the Executive shall be entitled to a base salary,
participation in the Company's profit sharing or executive incentive plan as in
effect as of the date hereof, participation in all Company health, welfare,
pension and other

                                       2

<PAGE>

employee benefit and fringe benefit plans (including insurance plans and
vacation plans or policies) in which generally all other executives of the
Company participate during the period of employment, subject in all events to
any changes to the terms and conditions of such plans as in effect from time to
time, and participation in other special allowance and bonus arrangements,
generally made available to other executives of the Company, all of which are
more specifically described and set forth on Exhibit B, attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference. In addition, and notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, the Executive shall be entitled to such
increases in compensation, as determined in accordance with and as set forth on
Exhibit B.

      5.  Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2
          -------------------------
hereto, the Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated prior to the
expiration of then current Term, as follows:

          (a)  Termination by the Company for Good Cause or by the Executive.
               --------------------------------------------------------------

              (i)  The Company may terminate the Executive's employment with the
          Company for good cause ("Good Cause"), as defined below, or the
          Employee may elect to terminate his employment with the Company for
          any reason upon sixty (60) days' prior written notice by the Executive
          to the Company.

              (ii) For purposes of this Agreement, Good Cause shall mean (i) the
          substandard performance by the Employee of his duties hereunder
          (hereinafter "Termination for Substandard Performance"), (ii) the
          willful and intentional failure by the Employee to substantially
          perform his duties with the Company, provided no act, or failure to
          act, on the Executive's part shall be considered "willful" or
          "intentional" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in

                                       3

<PAGE>

              bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or
              omission to act was in the best interest of the Company
              (hereinafter "Termination for Willful and Intentional Failure"),
              or (iii) the commitment by the Executive of an act or acts of
              dishonesty resulting or intended to result, directly or
              indirectly, in personal gain or personal enrichment at the expense
              of the Company, its affiliates, or its stockholders (hereinafter
              "Termination for Dishonesty").

                   (iii)  If the Executive's employment by the Company is so
               terminated by the Company for Good Cause or is terminated by the
              Executive, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any
              compensation or benefits under this Agreement, accruing after the
              date of such termination, except as otherwise provided herein,
              although the Executive shall continue to be bound by Sections 7
              and 8 hereto. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
              contrary, prior to the termination of the Executive's employment
              hereunder for substandard performance, the Company must give the
              Executive at least one hundred twenty (120) days' notice in
              writing in order to permit the Executive to correct and cure any
              such substandard performance. Such notice must specify the time
              period, subject to a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days
              during which the Executive must cure such performance, and must
              specify the nature of such substandard performance. In addition,
              such notice must also specify the minimum performance criteria
              with respect to the Executive that the Company views as
              acceptable. In the event the Executive does not so cure such
              substandard performance during the aforesaid cure period, the
              Company may terminate the Executive upon the expiration of such
              cure period. Notwithstanding anything

                                       4

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           contained herein to the contrary, in the event of Termination for
           Substandard Performance, the Company shall pay the Executive a
           severance payment equal to the compensation, including bonuses
           pro-rated for the periods so employed, that would have been payable
           to the Executive under this Agreement during the next succeeding
           three (3) months subsequent to the effective date of any such
           termination, as if such termination had not occurred. Such severance
           compensation shall be paid in such installments as Executive was paid
           by Company immediately prior to such termination.

           (b)  Termination due to a Change in Control/Constructive Termination.
                ----------------------------------------------------------------

                (i)   If during the Term hereof, there is a Change in Control of
           the Company, as defined below, and the Executive's employment with
           the Company is so terminated following such Change in Control, or the
           Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by Executive
           due to a Constructive Termination, as defined below, the Company
           shall pay the Executive, as a severance payment, for the next
           succeeding twelve (12) month period the compensation and benefits,
           including bonuses, that would have been payable to the Executive
           under this Agreement for such twelve (12) month period if such
           termination of employment had not occurred.

                (ii)  For purposes of this Agreement, "Constructive Termination"
           shall mean a termination of this Agreement by the Executive under any
           of the following circumstances:

                      (1) The Company is in material breach of any of its
                obligations under this Agreement, and the situation is not
                remedied within thirty (30)

                                       5

<PAGE>

           days after the Company receives written notice from the Executive of
           the situation; or

                (2)   During the three (3) year period commencing after a
           Change in Control of the Company (as defined below), the Executive
           determines in good faith that as a result of such Change in Control,
           there is a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of
           the Executive's duties or responsibilities from those in effect
           immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, including,
           but not limited to, any change in location at which the Executive is
           required to devote substantially all of his time in the performance
           of his duties hereunder, and provided that such change in location is
           in excess of fifty (50) miles from where the Executive performed
           substantially all of his duties immediately prior to such Change in
           Control, and the situation is not remedied within thirty (30) days
           after the Company receives written notice from the Executive of such
           determination; or

                (3)   During the three (3) year period commencing after a Change
           in Control of the Company, the Company so notifies the Executive of
           the Company's intention not to renew this Agreement, as provided for
           in Section 2 hereto.

           (iii) For purposes of this Agreement, "Change in Control" of the
    Company shall mean an event which shall be deemed to have occurred if:

                (1)   any "person" as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14
           (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
           (other

                                       6

<PAGE>

              than Paul S. Bush, the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary
              holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company,
              or any Company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders
              of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
              ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the "beneficial
              owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
              or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or
              more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
              outstanding securities;

                   (2)     during any period of two (2) consecutive years,
              individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the
              Board of Directors of the Company, and any new director (other
              than a director designated by a person who has entered into an
              agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in
              clause (1), (3) or (4) of this Sub-Section (iii)), whose election
              by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
              stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3)
              of the directors then still in office who either were directors at
              the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
              election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
              constitute at least a majority thereof;

                   (3)     the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
               consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other
              than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
              securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
              continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
              being converted into voting

                                       7

<PAGE>

                   securities of the surviving entity) more than 80% of the
                   combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company
                   or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
                   merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or
                   consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the
                   Company (or similar transaction) in which no person (as
                   hereinabove defined) acquires more than 25% of the combined
                   voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
                   shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company; or

                           (4)  the stockholders of the Company approve a plan
                   of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for
                   the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
                   substantially all of the Company's assets.

             (c)   Disability of Executive. In the event of the Executive's
                   -----------------------
disability (as hereinafter defined), during his employment under this Agreement,
the employment of the Executive and this Agreement may be terminated by the
Company nine (9) months after the commencement of such disability; provided,
however, that upon any such termination, the Executive shall be entitled to
payment of severance for a twelve (12) month period of time, which such
severance payments shall be calculated in accordance with Section 5(b)(i) above,
reduced by any benefits he may receive under any short term disability and long
term disability plans sponsored by the Company covering its executives at the
time that the Executive's disability commences. During the period of the
Executive's disability (prior to termination of employment), the Executive shall
continue to receive the compensation provided for in this Agreement, reduced by
any

                                       8

<PAGE>

         benefits he may receive under any short term disability and long term
         disability plans sponsored by the Company covering its executives at
         the time that the Executive's disability commences. If before the end
         of nine (9) months from the first day of disability, the Executive's
         disability shall have ceased, and he shall have resumed the full-time
         performance of his duties under this Agreement, the Executive shall
         continue to receive the compensation provided for in this Agreement.
         Provided, however, that unless the Executive shall satisfactorily
         perform his duties on a full-time basis under this Agreement for a
         continuous period of at least sixty (60) calendar days following a
         period of disability before the Executive again becomes disabled, he
         shall not be entitled to begin a new nine (9) month period for such
         subsequent disability, and the subsequent period of disability shall be
         added to the first in determining whether the Executive has been
         disabled for nine months in connection with this Section. During the
         period of his disability, the Executive shall be entitled to benefits
         in accordance with and subject to the terms and provisions of the
         Company's short-term disability income plan and its long-term
         disability plan for its executives, if any, as in effect at the time of
         the commencement of disability. For purposes of this Agreement,
         "disability" shall have the same meaning as given that term under the
         Company's long term disability plan for its executives, as in effect
         from time to time.

                   (d)     Continuation of Insurance Upon Termination.
                           ------------------------------------------
                           (i) In the event that the employment of the Executive
                   hereunder is terminated and provided further that in such an
                   event, the Executive is entitled to severance payments
                   hereunder, then in such an event, the Executive shall be
                   entitled to continuation of coverage under the benefit plans
                   outlined in Exhibit B,

                                       9

<PAGE>

         or such similar plans as the Company may provide for its executives
         from time to time thereafter, but in no event shall such coverages be
         less favorable than outlined in Exhibit B. Such continuation of
         coverage shall continue for the duration of such severance payments,
         and in the case of termination due to a Change in Control or
         Constructive Termination shall continue for a period of twenty-four
         (24) months from the date of termination. The Company shall be
         responsible for paying all of the costs of such coverages that it would
         have paid if the Executive was still in the employ of the Company. The
         group health coverage shall cover the Executive and his spouse and
         dependents. The life insurance policy covering the life of the
         Executive shall name as beneficiary the person or persons designated
         from time to time by the Executive.

              (ii)      Upon the termination of the employment of the Executive
         pursuant to which the Executive is not entitled to any severance
         payments, and upon termination of any coverages set forth in Subsection
         (i) above, the Executive shall be entitled only to continuation of
         coverage under the group health plans then in effect covering the
         Executive and only to the extent required by the provisions of
         applicable law and regulation. As permitted under applicable law and
         regulation, the Executive shall be responsible for paying the full cost
         of such continuation in coverage.

     6.  Confidential Information.  Except as reasonably required in the course
         ------------------------
of his employment, the Executive agrees not to disclose to others or permit such
disclosure, or make use of or permit the use of for his own benefit or the
benefit of others, any confidential information, without the prior written
consent of the company. Confidential information as used

                                       10

<PAGE>

in this Agreement includes any information, whether of a financial, technical or
marketing nature, that pertains to the present or prospective business of the
Company or any affiliate of the Company, or of any present or prospective
customer, consultant or supplier of the Company or of any other party with which
the Company does business and may be contractually or otherwise obligated to
maintain such information secret, and becomes known to Executive or is generated
by the Executive in the course of his employment with the Company, including,
but not limited to, any information relating to manufacturing equipment,
formulae, formulations, processes, plans, inventions, market information,
designs, materials, data, product information, know-how, licensees,
sublicensees, experience, names, buying habits, or practices of any customers,
marketing methods and related data, the names of any vendors or suppliers, costs
of materials, prices, manufacturing and sales costs or lists or other written
records, intended trade names, trade secrets, intended trademarks, methods of
operation, sales statistics and other information pertaining to the Company, its
technology or its customers, and which is confidential and in the nature of
trade secrets. Confidential information, however, shall not include information
that is, or through no fault of the Executive becomes, generally and overtly
known in the industry in which the Company competes. The Executive also agrees
that upon leaving the Company's employ he will not take with him, without the
prior written consent of the Company, and he will surrender to the Company upon
leaving the Company's employ or at such sooner date, if requested by the
Company, any records, lists, drawings, blueprints, specifications or other
documents or property of the Company or any affiliate thereof, together with any
copy or reproduction thereof, mechanical or otherwise, which is of a
confidential nature relating to the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or,
without limitation, relating to its or their methods of production, technology,
licensing, distribution, suppliers, customers, client relationships,

                                       11

<PAGE>

marketing strategies or any description of any formulae or secret processes, or
which was obtained by him or entrusted to him during the course of his
employment with the Company or which otherwise contains confidential
information.

         7.       Competition, Detrimental Conduct.
                  --------------------------------
                  (a) The Executive covenants and agrees that during the six (6)
         months following the termination of his employment with the Company for
         Good Cause, he will not engage in "Competition" with the Company. For
         purposes of this Section 7, "Competition" shall mean:

                      (i)  the Executive either as a principal, agent, employer,
                  partner, director, stockholder or otherwise, engaging in any
                  business in direct competition with the principal business of
                  the Company or any affiliate of the Company; provided,
                  however, that in no event shall ownership of less than 5% of
                  the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote for the
                  election of directors of a corporation with a class of equity
                  securities held of record by more than 500 persons, standing
                  alone, be deemed Competition with the Company within the
                  meaning of this Section 7(a).

                      (ii) soliciting any person who is a supplier or customer
                  of the businesses conducted by the Company, or any business in
                  which the Executive has been engaged on behalf of the Company,
                  or any affiliate of the Company, at any time during the period
                  of employment on behalf of a business described in clause (i)
                  of this Section 7(a), or

                                       12

<PAGE>

               (iii) inducing or attempting to persuade any Executive of the
          Company or any of its affiliates to terminate his employment in order
          to enter into employment with a business described in clause (i) of
          this Section 7(a).

          (b)  The Executive recognizes and agrees that the restrictions on his
     activities contained in this Section 7 are required for the reasonable
     protection of the Company and its investments.

     8.   Injunctive Relief. The Executive recognizes and agrees that, by reason
          -----------------
of his knowledge, experience, skill and ability, his services are extraordinary
and unique, that the breach or attempted breach of the restrictive covenants set
forth in Section 6 or Section 7 above will result in immediate and irreparable
injury to the Company for which the Company will not have an adequate remedy at
law, and that the Company shall be entitled to a decree of specific performance
of those covenants and to a temporary and permanent injunction enjoining the
breach thereof. Such decree or order, to the extent appropriate, shall
specifically enforce the full performance of any such covenant by the Executive,
and the Executive hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any such court of
competent jurisdiction in the State of New York or any State of Executive's
residence, and authorizes the entry on such Executive's behalf of any required
appearance for such purpose. Enforcement of any remedy under this Section shall
not reduce or adversely affect any other remedy which may be available to the
Company in law or in equity, and nothing herein shall prevent the Company from
seeking injunctive or other relief hereunder. The Company may seek any and all
other remedies to which the Company may be entitled, including, without
limitation, monetary damages, without posting bond or furnishing security of any
kind.

                                       13

<PAGE>

     9.   Continued Payments. The Executive agrees that the Company shall not be
          ------------------
obligated to make any further payments (including any severance payments) or
provide any benefits provided for herein, if the Executive shall, during the
period in which such payments are being made, engage in Competition with the
Company as defined in Section 7(a) above, or breach his obligations under
Section 6. The provisions of Section 8 and 9 are in addition to and not by way
of limitation of any other rights or remedies available to the Company.

     10.  Severability.
          ------------

          (a)  In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be
     determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, in whole or in
     part, the remaining provisions of this Agreement not so invalid or
     unenforceable shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force
     and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

          (b)  Any provision of this Agreement which may be invalid or
     unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be limited by construction thereof,
     to the end that such provision shall be valid and enforceable in such
     jurisdiction; and

          (c)  Any provision of this Agreement which may for any reason be
     invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall remain in effect and be
     enforceable in any jurisdiction in which such provision shall be valid and
     enforceable.

     11.  Miscellaneous.
          -------------

          (a)  Indulgences, Etc. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part
               ----------------
     of either party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under
     this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
     partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any
     other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power
     or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or

                                       14

<PAGE>

     privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such
     right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No
     waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the
     party asserted to have granted such waiver.

          (b) Controlling Law. This Agreement and all questions relating to its
              ---------------
     validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement (including, without
     limitation, provisions concerning limitations of actions), shall be
     governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
     York, without application to the principles of conflict of laws.

          (c) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
              -------
     required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
     deemed to have been duly given, made and received only when personally
     delivered, one day following the day when deposited with an overnight
     courier service, priority overnight service such as Federal Express, for
     delivery to the intended addressee or three days following the day when
     deposited in the United States mails, first class postage prepaid,
     addressed as set forth below:

              If to the Company:

              Bush Industries, Inc.
              One Mason Drive
              Jamestown, New York 14702

              Attn: Executive Vice President

              If to Executive:

              To the address first set forth above.

          Any person may alter the address to which communications or copies are
     to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in conformity with
     the provisions of this Section for the giving of notice.

                                       15

<PAGE>

          (d) Binding Nature of Agreement; No Assignment. This Agreement shall
              ------------------------------------------
     be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
     respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns, except
     that no party may assign or transfer its rights under this Agreement
     without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. No right of
     the Executive to any payments under this Agreement shall be subject to
     anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, charge or
     hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy or similar process, or
     assignment by operation of law.

          (e) Section Headings. The Section headings in this Agreement are for
              ----------------
     convenience only; they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect
     its interpretation.

          (f) Gender, Etc. Words used herein, regardless of the number and
              -----------
     gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any
     other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine
     or neuter, as the context indicates is appropriate.

          (g) Number of Days. In computing the number of days for purposes of
              --------------
     this Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays, Sundays and
     holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time period falls
               --------  -------
     on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which federal banks are or may elect to
     be closed, then the final day shall be deemed to be the next day which is
     not a Saturday, Sunday or such holiday.

          (h) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any
              ----------------------------
     rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties and their
     respective successors and permitted assigns.

                                       16

<PAGE>

          (i) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement (including the
              ----------------------------
     Exhibits referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the
     parties and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, or
     representations by or among the parties, written or oral, that may have
     related in any way to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be
     amended, supplemented or modified in whole or in part except by an
     instrument in writing signed by the party or parties against whom
     enforcement of any such amendment, supplement or modification is sought.

          (j) Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed
              ------------
     to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent,
     and thereof strict construction shall be applied against any party. Any
     reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law shall be
     deemed also to refer to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
     unless the context requires otherwise. The parties intend that each
     representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein shall have
     independent significance. If any party has breached any representation,
     warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there
     exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same
     subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the
     party has not breached shall not detract from or mitigate the fact that the
     party is in breach of the first representation, warranty or covenant. This
     Agreement shall be neither construed against nor in favor of any of the
     parties hereto, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning of its
     content.

          (k) Arbitration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
              -----------
     Agreement, any controversies or claims arising out of or relating to this
     Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration
     in Jamestown, New York, in accordance

                                       17

<PAGE>

     with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association, and
     judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any
     court having jurisdiction thereof. The award rendered by the arbitrator
     shall be final and binding upon the parties, not subject to appeal. The
     prevailing party shall be entitled to recover as part of the award all
     reasonable attorneys' fees and related costs, including all fees and
     expenses of the arbitration. The parties hereto further agree to use their
     good faith and best efforts to commence arbitration within thirty (30) days
     after the claim, dispute or other matters in question have arisen.
     Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, notice of
     non-renewal of the then current term in accordance with Section 2 hereto is
     non-arbitrable. In the event arbitration is initiated hereunder with
     respect to termination for Good Cause, the parties hereto agree that
     Executive shall not be entitled to reinstatement and that the maximum award
     that can be awarded Executive hereunder, based upon a determination by the
     arbitrator that the Executive was not terminated for Good Cause shall be
     severance compensation equal to twelve (12) months. Such severance
     compensation shall be based on the monthly portion of the Executive's
     annual base salary as of the date of termination, including bonuses.

          (l) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
              ------------
     counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which
     together will constitute one and the same instrument.

          (m) Duty to Mitigate. In the event the Executive is entitled to any
              ----------------
     severance payments hereunder, the Executive shall not have a duty to
     mitigate the Corporation's obligation to pay the same hereunder. The
     Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payments
     provided for under this Agreement by seeking other

                                       18

<PAGE>

     employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payments hereunder be
     reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of
     employment by another employer after termination of the Executive.

          (n) Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and
              --------
     warranties made herein or otherwise made in writing by any party pursuant
     hereto shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                         THE COMPANY:

                                         Bush Industries, Inc.

                                         By: /s/
                                            ------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                         Title:
                                               ---------------------------------


                                         The Executive:

                                         /s/
                                         --------------------------------------

                                       19