OUR STORY
Opening the door to the historic building that houses Betsie Bay Furniture is like walking into a museum-a museum dedicated to the art of furnishing your home. Each turn of your head from one direction to the next is inevitably followed by an oooh or an aaah as your imagination soars with the thoughts of home décor. Before leaving, which could be hours or a few minutes later, your mind is brimming with plans for your own northern inspired place.
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Having found its niche in the casual "up-north" look, Betsie Bay Furniture, located on Frankfort's Main Street, is more than a store and more than a business. Totaling 10,000 square feet in all it defies the adage, "shop 'till you drop" because if it is a break you desire, a number of inviting seating arrangements beckon you to relax until you gain the momentum to begin again.
Owners Jeff and Janet Hessler purchased Betsie Bay Furniture from Jeff's parents, Pat and Hugh Hessler in 1988. In 1974, the senior Hessler bought the business from Gertrude Snider-back then it was called Snider's Home Furnishings-who owned the business with her husband Howard since 1942. Prior to that, Abraham Horwitch had founded the first furniture store in the space in 1919.
The building that houses the store, which is actually three buildings blended into one, has a rich, historical background. The east building, once home to the Bluebird Tearoom, dates back to 1894, and the west building, formerly the Frankfort post office was built in 1903. These buildings at one time or another over the past 100-plus years gave shelter to an assortment of businesses including a poolroom, a saloon, a barbershop, a millinery shop, an ice cream parlor, a liquor store and rental apartments on the second floor.
Initially, recalls Janet, when they first bought the store. "We took more of an interest in the building." Later came their attraction to the retail operation. Jeff, out of four Hessler children, was the only one who showed a keen interest in the furniture business, beginning work as a deliveryman in his teens. He carries on the Hessler tradition that begain with his grandather, who was a furniture sales representative, and was the continued by his father, Hugh.
"Jeff and I have built a successful business that stresses good service, but we could only do what we do because of Pat and Hugh." Explains Janet. "They ran a successful business that stressed good customer service. What we have added complements what they began." Hugh remains an active, hands-on part of the business. "He is always there to ask advice, be a consultant and help us out," says Janet.
Upon purchase of Betsie Bay Furniture, Jeff and Janet explored the building's historic past by beginning a renovation process that would reveal its origin. Ceilings were removed, and the original trim was discovered beneath them. Walls were torn down to expose century-old brick and the lifting up carpet and linoleum exposed wood floors that were then refinished to their early luster.
The revitalized look lends itself to the unique backdrops for the furniture displays, which embody northern lifestyle made to order.
"Jeff is such a visionary, he is so creative. He can envision what things will look like," Janet says, describing her husband. "He can pick out colors, move pieces around and I always have the utmost confidence that it will look great."
The Betsie Bay staff prides itself on giving the best possible service to their customers-those who choose to live and vacation in northern Michigan. They offer a vast array of design services to help people express their different personalities and lifestyles. Four designers: Jeff; Janet; Jacke Goodson and Christina Duperron, ASID, each contribute an element of their own personal style to the mix.
Janet stresses the staff's team effort. When buying merchandise for the store the four designers work together. They travel to the largest furniture show in the United States, held annually in North Carolina, and attend art shows across the country, always with the intent of selecting unique elements for an inimitable look, that which is not found at an average furniture store or chain. And one thing is evident while making your way through this Frankfort store-this store is as far above average as it gets.
The designers, whose mission is to develop living areas that are peaceful, tasteful and express their clients' individual style, offer a broad range of design services and are available to visit homes for one-on-one personal consultation. They work on individual room layouts; the selection of interior finishes such as paint, wall coverings, flooring and window treatments; lighting design and electrical location; style and finish of kitchen and bath cabinets and entire bath layouts; and the selection of door hardware, countertops, plumbing fixtures and other interior finish materials such as artwork and even bed linens. Custom orders are encouraged and are manufactured to order.
Each of the three buildings that comprise Betsie Bay Furniture focuses on a specific theme. The west building is considered to be transitional with an array of contemporary to casual furnishings, rich in color. The main room is more rustic in feeling, and the east building has a bright and cheery cottage look, with a palette that reflects sunshine and blue skies. The upstairs, once occupied by rental apartments, have been converted into a vignette of rooms showcasing a variety of settings. The designers continually create new displays for their customer's enjoyment, expressing diverse lifestyles. The soft jazz music piped in from above, encourages customers to browse through the store at their leisure.
Betsie Bay Furniture is a literal treasure chest for those who take on shopping as a true art form, and a welcome oasis for those who dread the deed.
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