Those looking for custom, American-made hardwood furniture might want to take a stroll through the Pittsburgh Mills shopping center in Frazer.
Nestled in the shopping center on Route 28 is The Amish Home, a furniture showroom that has attracted such a customer base in recent years that an expansion was necessary.
It occupies 8,000 square feet, twice the size of the original storefront, not far from Dick's Sporting Goods.
“What the Amish contractors do is unlike anything else,” said salesman Matt Frank.
The Oakmont resident started at the store about five years ago after a previous career in retail sales. He said the craftsmanship alone sells the pieces, which are made to order using wood and stain of the customer's choice.
Bedroom sets, dining tables, rocking chairs and more are designed to fit a variety of styles and budgets, said Chelsea Marshall, who manages the store.
She has been in business since 2010, just a year after moving to the Mills.
At the time, the furniture store occupied two smaller rooms across the hall, but was building a good reputation – which spurred expansion.
Marshall of Verona was responsible for a major overhaul of the website in 2016, which she said focused on the unique goods made by 45 Ohio Amish families.
“It was really successful and got a lot of attention,” she said.
“Our furniture is made from solid wood and with a focus on quality. It's not cheap. It should last a long time.”
Prices at The Amish Home start at $2,000 for a dining table and four chairs, but can increase significantly depending on the details. A bedroom set starts at $5,000.
Details are left to the customer's imagination. From the beveled edge to the site-specific size, the furniture can meet every wish.
“Everyone has different needs,” Marshall said. “We got rid of computer desk drawers for tall people to accommodate their knees. We installed drawers under a bed for storage. We just need to know what you want and then we will make it happen.”
She cited a Regent Square couple who needed to maximize efficiency in an unusually shaped 20th-century home. They requested a king-size bed with a bookcase headboard that had to fit over an L-shaped staircase.
“We made it happen,” Marshall said.
Frank said the store has seen an increase in the number of young shoppers interested in the quality of heirloom furniture in recent years.
“We are seeing more and more people choosing to skip the throwaway phase of furniture,” Frank said.
“You can buy it piece by piece as you can afford it,” he said, adding that Amish builders certify a match to wood and stain options from previous construction.
Marshall and Frank said the store relies on its reputation to sustain its growth. Despite the lackluster atmosphere in the Mills, where 75% of the storefronts are empty, business continues to thrive.
The hallways, which were filled with more than 120 retailers when the mall opened in 2005, are now mostly empty.
“We could never really rely on people walking through the mall,” Marshall said.
“But we’re fortunate that we have phenomenal word of mouth.”