Tegeler’s Amish Furniture – Made in the Midwest

By LYNNETTE FORTH | For The Prairie Advocate News

One day twenty five years ago, a salesman stopped at local businessman Arlyn Tegeler’s grain equipment business to show him some farm merchandise. Tegeler noticed furniture in the man’s van and asked what he was doing with it. It was furniture his Amish relatives had made and he was looking for people that might be interested in selling it.

Arlyn decided to take a chance, and that decision led to a successful business which now hosts a 9000 square foot showroom showcasing beautiful handcrafted furniture made by Amish craftsmen, most of them in Central Illinois, who have mastered the art of building beautiful quality, durable wood furniture that has timeless character and long-lasting beauty.

Arlyn was most impressed with the quality of the furniture.

“Each piece is sanded and stained by hand, drawers are dove-tailed front and back and extend fully and close softly,” Arlyn stated. “Tables are sealed on the underside to prevent warping, and all of the furniture is protected with a sealant and catalyzed varnish to assure a smooth and even finish. The staining process, is done with a handheld, air-powered sander in which the craftsman uses his hand to feel the wood’s smoothness. Our furniture is backed by a lifetime warranty for any problems in either the workmanship or material. The builders stand behind everything we see.”

Arlyn has seen many changes over the years. More woods, stains, and of course product lines continue to expand as trends change.

“In the beginning, only three bedroom styles were available. Now there are twenty eight different collections. We have many table sizes and styles, or you can now ‘Build Your Own’ table to create the look that suits your needs and choose from over a hundred chairs to complete your set.”

“The choice is yours, literally,” said store manager, Jacki Gorzny. “Customers have the opportunity to customize their piece to their liking, stating with their choice of wood. We can do anything from country casual, to mission to very contemporary black pieces.”

Gorzny said that it normally takes ten to twelve weeks to complete your piece, or you can purchase anything displayed in the showroom. “Customers are pleasantly surprised at the amount and variety of furniture we have.”

Tegeler added, “We realize we are a destination store. We believe our warranty, our quality product, our excellent customer service, and our friendly, knowledgeable sales staff make it well worth the trip. Our ‘Fall Savings Event’ is September 20 thru October 5th and we are offering 15% off everything.”

Tegeler’s Amish Furniture at 13459 Crosby Rd. (2 miles South of Morrison on Rt. 78) is open Mondays from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.,Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call or visit www.tegeleramishfurniture.com