“My grandfather, Donald Sr., came to Lapeer from Detroit to run what was called Howell Industries at the time. Something to do with the war effort back in the day, I believe. How he went from managing that plant to this, I don't know, but in 1954, he opened Beyer’s Furniture here on Nepessing Street.
I grew up in this store. There wasn’t a parking lot in the back, but a few houses and a dirt alley. There was a huge door on the back of the building where semi-trucks were loaded and unloaded. My father was a slave driver and I worked for 50 cents an hour sweeping, riding in the delivery truck, and eventually driving.
My dream was to go to college to get a fancy business degree, run a Fortune 500 company, and fly around the world on the company jet—or so I thought. But that was during the recession in the 1980s. Business was horrible and I ended up back here by default, finishing my education at UofM Flint, which was a great school.
I always say I ‘just stuck around’, but I like what I do. It’s in my blood. My grandfather Beyer started the furniture store and on the other side of the family, my grandfather Robinson built houses. Mash the two together and it makes for some pretty solid DNA for the furniture business. On one hand you have a love of homes and interiors on the building side and then a love of the fashion side with the furniture.
The work is challenging. It's frustrating. It's rewarding. And it’s all the above that makes me like what I do. Now we're selling to the grandchildren of clients that my grandfather and father sold to back in the day, and I love that.
With Lapeer, it probably sounds cliché, but this is where my roots are. I enjoy the friendships and relationships with people here on Nepessing Street and all the different friends I've made over the years.
As a business owner, when you're faced with difficult times, it helps to have friends. Any business that tells you they don't face difficult times is being incredibly disingenuous with you. Whether it's the product not arriving on time like it's supposed to, or the sales volume isn't what you need it to be for the month, or the delivery trucks broke down—business owners face so many frustrations and challenges.
But when you walk out on the street and see someone like Jim coming across the street with a cup of coffee for you, it makes you think, ‘You know, this is a great place to live.
The custom furniture we do at Beyer’s Furniture came out of the 2008 recession. We had a supplier in Arizona that built oak TV stands and they went bankrupt. It was a difficult economy for everyone and we didn't have any money to give deposits back, but we had six or seven of these things on order. I've always dabbled in building furniture, loved old houses and woodworking, so I called every customer and said, ‘Hey, this is our dilemma. If you're willing to give me a shot, I'll build these things for you and if you don't like it, don't take it.’
So, I stuck my neck out and I built lots of little TV stands, carts and eventually some bookcases and tables, and it grew from there. Not only is it great for the store, but it’s great for me personally. I can come in here early in the morning, work in that back room for a bit, then come out on the sales floor for a few hours to make sure things are going right. I've got great people working for me, so sometimes I go back there to finish out my day or go install the custom furniture in people’s homes. It’s really deepened my love for this business.”
– Buddy Beyer, owner of Beyer’s Furniture
Written by Phil Eich, Storyville
This project was created in collaboration with the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) & Michigan Main Street for Beyer's Furniture