Ehler’s Furniture changes ownership

By Jimmy Appelt

tribunenewsroom@sbcglobal.net

In June 1961, Henry “Bootsie” and Dorothy Ehler entered into

the furniture business renting a building on the southeast corner of

the Courthouse Square in Hallettsville.

Three years later, the Ehlers purchased the building and in 1969

expanded it by buying the building next door.

Over the years, the store grew offering living room suites, bedroom

furniture and bedding, other home items as well as all kinds

of kitchen appliances including washers and dryers.

“We sold everything in furniture and almost anything else,” Dorothy

said in an interview during the store’s 50th anniversary.

In 1984, Bootsie and Dorothy’s son and daughter-in-law, David

and Paula, purchased the majority interests, and from that point

on, they conducted the business of the store with Bootsie and Dorothy’s

assistance. Bootsie passed away in 1999 and Dorothy has

continued to assist her son and daughter-in-law with the

business.

For the past 62 years Ehler’s Furniture has been under

the guidance of the Ehler family and has established itself

throughout this part of Texas by selling well-known products,

offering outstanding service and a personal appreciation

to their customers.

This past March that era came to end with the Ehlers

deciding it was time to give up their long established business

and closed the deal selling their store to two local

couples, Kevin and Sally Zappe and Brandon and Jennifer

Noska.

“We want to do some traveling and running the store is

a six-day a week job. It made it very difficult,” David said

in explaining the decision to sell.

Even though David and Paula are approaching retirement

age, the thought of selling was not an immediate

thought in their minds.

However when the Zappes and Noskas approached

them, they felt now was as good of time as ever to sell the

business.

“This dropped in our lap and having local people buy it,

that’s an opportunity that is not going to come along more

than once,” David said.

For the past five years, Sally and Jennifer, who are cousins,

have dabbled in various ventures and with that in

mind the husbands felt the two women should get into

their own business.

“Our husbands both felt we need to get into a business

of our own and between the four of us, we landed on

Ehlers,” Sally said. “They would approach us with different

thoughts about buying this or trying that, but many times

it was like, yea sure and roll our eyes.”

However that changed after a conversation Brandon

had with Jennifer’s mother Gayle Henke, who is a longtime

Ehler’s employee.

“Brandon is very entrepreneurial. He is always trying

to explore new and different ideas,” Jennifer said. “He was

asking my mom how things were going at work. She said

David and Paula are getting close to retirement age and

she had started working two days a week for them.”

According to Jennifer, after hearing that David and Paula

might be considering retirement, the wheels in Brandon’s

mind starting turning and the rest you could say is

history.

Jennifer said Brandon approached Kevin about the idea

of buying Ehlers’ and Kevin said he would talk to David

and Paula.

After visiting with David and Paula over the past year,

the two sides came to agreement and the final papers were

signed March 31.

“Sally and I have been close our whole life and we have

always wanted one day to do something. We always wanted

to own our own business,” Jennifer said in regards to

purchasing the business.

Sally added that they always thought having something

on the Square would be great.

“The roots of Hallettsville have always run strong for us

and owning something on the Square – It’s the history of

the Square and everything about it,” Sally said. “The ability

to own a building on the Square is pretty cool.”

Sally and Jennifer said they plan to keep the Ehler’s

Furniture name and highly complimented the Ehler’s for

the great job they have done in establishing the business’

name.

“They’ve done a wonderful job with the company and

they have made a name for themselves,” Sally said. “It’s

known and we don’t want to change it.”

Jennifer and Sally said they have been finding random

old pieces at the store from years gone by and Dorothy

shared books, magazines and pictures of the store’s history.

“One of our plans is to feature a history wall,” Sally said.

Jennifer said all the employees will remain with the

store.

“They have great employees,” Jennifer said. “Paula still

comes in for several hours each day, David has agreed to

help out whenever needed, and Dorothy pops in and we

hope she continues to do so.”

As far as merchandise, the Zappes and Noskas plan to

continue to offer the same types of furniture and bedding

including La-Z-Boy chairs, lift chairs and recliners as well

as Serta bedding.

In addition, the new owners will keep all styles from traditional,

to modern, to farm house as well as possibly adding

outdoor furniture, accessories and decorative pieces.

“They (Ehlers) have a good formula, its worked,” Jennifer

said.

David said selling the business after 62 years has been

emotional and its something they thought about for a long

time.

“One of the nice things about selling it to the Noskas

and Zappes is it was so easy,” Both sides bent over backwards

trying to make sure everything would work out

well,” David said. “Mom (Dorothy) was very emotional

when we finally signed the papers.”

•••••••••••••••

Ehler’s Furniture will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony

and meet and greet event on Monday, May 2 from

4 to 6 p.m.

The public is invited to come by and meet the Noskas

and Zappes as well as the Ehlers.