Recently, Lee Pagani, his sister, Angie Nandor, and her husband, Ron, became the new owners of Eastwood Amish Craft Furniture. Lee now serves as the general manager of the store -- a far cry from his job in sales and marketing for the technology-giant IBM.
"I love it here," Lee said. "This part of the country is beautiful, and I love the simplistic lifestyle."
Although ownership has changed, Eastwood still stands for quality and freshness, Lee explained.
"We want to be able to keep the base products we've always sold and the customers who've always shopped here," he said. "We also want to continually give our customers fresh, new designs. This gives them a reason to come back."
Lee went on to explain he spent many years living in Italy, where shopkeepers change their window displays every week. The customers come to expect seeing new, fresh items each time they pass by. Lee wants to project that image here, to give the repeat customers (of which there are many) something new to see.
In the 11,000-square-foot showroom at Eastwood Amish Craft Furniture, you'll discover quality products, built to last by select local Amish craftsmen. In this furniture, hardware is strong and secure (they use screws, not staples). The wood is thick, solid oak, cherry, maple and hickory hardwood. Selections are available in a variety of pieces: tables, chairs, rockers, hutches, entertainment centers, desks -- including computer desks (even a roll-top computer desk) -- bedroom suites, baby and children's furniture.
"We carry furniture that grows with your child," Lee said. "What starts out as a crib and a changing station, can transform into a full-size bed and a dresser later on."
At Eastwood, a large candle room features Yankee Candles and accessories. There is also a book room, offering a variety of Bibles (many in German) and spiritual reading materials. You'll also find a large selection of Ashton prints, lamps and assorted accessory and gift items.
"A large part of our business is 'custom work,'" Lee said. "Customers come with their measurements, ideas and sketches. We typically start from a piece in our showroom that basically suits them, bring in photos from craftsmen's portfolios, and use our experience to come up with a drawing we will bring to the appropriate craftsman to quote and build. And of course, since we use local craftsmen, we can directly discuss each customer's unique requests."
Custom work usually takes from four to six weeks, but can take up to 14 for some items. But it's well worth the wait, Lee said, because in the end, the customer gets exactly what they wanted. There are choices of wood and stain to consider when purchasing a piece of new furniture. And if youve purchased something in the past from Eastwood, they know all about it.
"We have records dating back to 1994 when Abe Hochstetler began the business right here in this house," Lee said. "There was no electricity here then, but the records were kept about who built the item, the type of wood used, the stain color, and so on. Those records have been maintained through the years. Anyone who's ever purchased furniture here -- the large items -- can use this information, along with our consistent designs, to get companion pieces to match."
Some new, fresh items at the store include a Mission-style table, chairs and hutch, a Village Mission office collection, and the Eastwood butcher block -- a gorgeous kitchen work station that would look great in anyones kitchen.
Eastwood is currently working on an Italian-style "Armadio," similar to our armoire, but more flexible. Built with sectional choices of drawers, shelves or hang-up space, this Armadio can be used in nearly any room of the house, not just the bedroom.
Another facet of Eastwood, is its outdoor furniture display. They use Poly Lumber to construct durable outdoor pieces that have 25-year guarantees but will just about never wear out. Together with all stainless steel hardware, this Poly Lumber is used for swings, rockers, tables, Adirondack chairs, footstools, end tables and wishing wells to add to your maintenance-free outdoor living enjoyment.
"Our employees are very experienced and share our values," Lee said proudly. "Many of our repeat customers come in and ask for them by name!"
If you're looking for quality, Amish-made furniture for your home, be sure to stop by Eastwood Amish Craft Furniture very soon. They're located in downtown Kidron, right across the street from Lehman's. And be sure to tell the kind folks at Eastwood you read this in Amish Heartland magazine!
Eastwood Amish Craft Furniture, PO Box 67, 4722 Kidron Rd., Kidron, OH 44636, (330) 857-2009 or toll-free (866) 857-2009, www.eastwoodfurniture.com; hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., open till 7 p.m. on Thu.; closed on Sun.