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Steinhafels fluorishes in Vernon Hills
Anne Hildreth of Chicago, a design consultant, rearranges the pillows in a furniture display at Steinhafels Furniture Superstore in Vernon Hills. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media
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NAME: Steinhafels Furniture Superstore
LOCATION: 569 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
SPECIALTIES: Solid wood furniture, mattresses
HOURS: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays
FOR INFORMATION: (847) 281-0050; www.steinhafels.com
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Updated: October 9, 2012 8:52AM
VERNON HILLS — Gary Steinhafel grew up in the furniture business. As a kid, he pulled weeds and cut the grass outside of the warehouse until he was promoted to sweeping the floors inside.
In college he drove the delivery trucks and gained much respect for the delivery workers who hauled the heavy furniture pieces. His life as a furniture man was predestined.
Since 1934, Steinhafels has been bringing quality home furnishings, mattresses and home décor to southeastern Wisconsin. What started in a small grocery store in Milwaukee that had burned down now is Wisconsin’s No. 1 mattress and furniture retailer, boasting eight furniture superstores and 10 mattress retail locations.
The third-generation family-owned business crossed the border in 2011 and opened its first furniture showroom in Illinois in August 2011.
Located in Vernon Hills, the 101,000-square-foot showroom sees more than 1,000 customers a week and is run by just north of 50 employees, many from the neighboring towns of Mundelein and Libertyville. The location is quickly becoming the No. 2 store next to the main corporate location in Waukesha.
As president, Steinhafel credits the business’ success to his staff and the quality products they offer.
??We have teams of salespeople who specialize in every category,” Steinhafel said. “We have a good dialogue with the employees ...”
Steinhafel said they work hard to give customers a great shopping experience.
“We accessorize our showrooms with a lot of natural light and take the time to design and decorate so you don’t feel like you’re just looking at a display,” Steinhafel said. “Furniture is an investment, and it’s important that our customers understand what this type of investment can look like in their home.”
The showroom features a wide selection of the latest home furnishings with styles for all price ranges. They also have their own line of mattresses. The store also contains a 15,000-square-foot clearance center, including discontinued styles, “as is”, one-of-a-kinds, special purchases, floor samples, room groups and mattress deals.
“We’re known for our mattresses and solid wood furniture items, but we have a breadth of assortment,” Steinhafel said. “Seasonals are becoming a major product, and we carry a wide variety of patio furniture.”
The decorating solutions team offers clients packages that work for them. An experienced designer will come to your home to transform a space.
Interior Designer Deb Goetz says she works on about 94 projects a year. The Mundelein resident said she is passionate about helping customers bring their ideas to life.
“We have the best quality products for the dollar,” Goetz said.
Steinhafels has something for every member of the family — even the younger crowd that isn’t quite so interested in furniture. The Vernon Hills showroom has a play area equipped with a large tube slide and four Xbox 360s. Customers also are welcome to complimentary coffee and fresh-baked cookies.
“Steinhafels feels like a family-owned business,” said Manager Eli Garcia. “We have a very welcoming atmosphere.”
Art and Lynn Kohley are longtime shoppers at Steinhafels’ Kenosha location and said they were coming to Vernon Hills to see what they had to offer for their new Woodstock home.
“We’ve bought many items from Steinhafels,” Lynn Kohley said. “Everyone is very friendly and willing to help, and we are never disappointed in the quality of the products. You can find what you came for.”
Steinhafels also gives back to the community by donating furniture to Next Steps Home in North Chicago, PADS Lake County and the Countryside Fire Protection District Station 2 in Vernon Hills.
