A furniture store veteran is setting up shop on his own — with a little help from the Amish community.
Lewis Rhaburn opened Rhaburn Amish Furniture at 2938 N. River Road in River Grove in December 2014. It’s a one-man show, where he sells end tables, coffee tables, chairs and sofas, but he specializes in recliners.
His small office also acts as a showroom, showing off the many different recliners and pieces of furniture he has available.
He used to work for La-Z-Boy, but after working up close with the product, he believed there were better-quality chairs out there.
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“I’m trying to bring quality back into furniture, especially recliners,” he said.
Rhaburn, 37, is a former member of the Mennonite religion. When he struck out on his own, a friend he used to worship with said he had a connection with an Amish furniture-maker that was looking for more business.
“He introduced me to the Amish and when I saw their furniture and compared them to the others I used to sell, I said ‘I’m getting into this business,'” he said.
The Amish community is located in Shipshewanna, Ind., about three hours from Chicago. They make the furniture to order.
“They do quality work and you have to custom-order it,” he said. “We have 80 leather samples and fabric samples. You can custom-order anything you want.”
Due to their religious traditions, the Amish cannot use electricity, but use power tools and machinery powered by an air compressor. But their final product isn’t automated or pre-assembled, which Rhaburn is proud of.
The components of the recliners are made with real wood; customers can choose the type of wood and stain color for other wood furniture orders.
“The recliners last a lifetime,” he said. “They give a 10-year warranty, but the recliners will last a lifetime.”
He said the prices are competitive with the other furniture stores as well. A 50 percent down payment, plus delivery fee and taxes, is needed before an order is made. All orders take between six to eight weeks to complete, he said.
“They are not cheap, but comparable in price,” he said. “We have about 20 different styles.”
Rhaburn also offers an interior design service for those who need help creating an inviting space.
He believes his business will be successful because of the quality products he has available and he’s doing something he enjoys.
“I’m familiar with selling recliners and furniture; I love sales and I love interacting with customers,” he said.
Store hours are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. For more information or to set an appointment, call 847-505-2738.