“It’s definitely in my blood,” Disher said. “You always hear that businesses don’t last after the second generation. It means a lot to be in our third generation.”
The store offers furniture, home decor and accessories, including pieces for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. With 17 employees, the Centerville location spans more than 25,000 square feet.
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Back in 1941, Louis Day and his friend, Bob Brand, opened Northside Furniture on Valley Street in Dayton. Later on, they added additional locations in Belmont, Oakwood, Kettering and Centerville. As the Ethan Allen Furniture stores became popular, the Day brothers opened a gallery in Kettering in 1969.
In order to sell Ethan Allen furniture, the Day brothers had to discontinue selling all other brands. The concept and brand because popular, and they soon transitioned away from the Northside store.
They opened the current store on Miamisburg Centerville Road in in 1979. Mike Disher purchased the furniture store from Day — his father-in-law — back in 1995, and now his son Ryan Disher owns and operates the business.
The attention to detail and personalized service has lead to a loyal client base, said Rachel Upton, an interior designer for the Centerville store. Upton has worked for the company for more than 8 years.
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“I think it’s about the relationships with clients too,” Upton said. “One woman, I’ve helped her with three different homes as she’s transitioned through her life. It’s those long-term relationships that we build here that I think is important.”
In most recent years, the store has faced the ups and downs of an unstable economy, and the impact of online shopping. Customers come in more prepared after they’ve browsed online, with a better idea of the furniture they want to buy, Upton said.
In the past month, sales for furniture and home furnishings retailers nationwide jumped about 4 percent compared to the same month last year. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, sales totaled $9.26 billion for this November, up from the $8.9 billion in revenue from last November.
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The store has rebounded from the Great Recession, and Disher opened another location in Destin, Fla., back in 2012. The city didn’t have an Ethan Allen store yet, and it was an “untapped” market for the furniture industry.
As he continues to grow the business, Disher is looking to the next generation to carry on the family name — his daughters.
“I have two young daughters,” he said. “I’d like to share it with them.”
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