James A Reid Furniture

This place is the real deal. Higher prices than mainstream retailers, but much higher quality across the board. Staff isn’t paid on commission, either, so the «vulture» effect you get elsewhere (ahem, Art Van) is thankfully nowhere to be seen. It’s no wonder this place has been open since the 1920’s. That’s what happens when you sell real furniture at won’t-fall-apart-upon-delivery prices. If the best deal is what you’re looking for, check out Petoskey’s annual street sale, when Reid’s often offers significant discounts on select inventory.

This place is HUGE and packed with furniture, framed artwork, lamps, etc. Deceiving from the outside storefront on Mitchell Street about how BIG it is… there’s a large basement and a third floor. Staff helpful & knowledgable without being pushy – they left me alone to shop but were there when I had questions. They must not work on commission which is kinda nice… I hate the hard-​sell. Impressed with the selection, that it’s locally owned and operated, has fair pricing and quality furniture. Nice change from the «everything’s always on sale» box stores.

As an artist and a photographer who loves international films and culture and who has spent the last 20 years living in either NYC or Southern California, it was a tough transition to move to Northern Michigan (no museums, few galleries with and small downtowns.) As someone who has lived primarily in apartments, when my wife and I recently moved into a house in beautiful Harbor Springs, we had design and remodeling on the brain. (We had been absorbing HGTV and Interior design magazines for over a year before the move.)
For full disclosure’s sake, my sister is an employee at Reid Furniture but I hadn’t really been in the store before returning to Michigan a month ago and her and I never discussed her job much when we talked (we had busy lives and hadn’t kept in touch as well as we should have.)
At 41, I have never owned nice furniture and when you live in apartments and move a lot, it all becomes kind of disposable (which is ironic because I bet I have spent more on cheap furniture that broke and wore out and that I discarded, than had I just saved for quality stuff.)
All I can say is that now that we have settled down in the area, I will never buy cheap stuff again and I will never purchase home décor from anyone but Reid Furniture again.
Wow!!!
This store is like a museum. It is endless. When you think you have seen everything, you learn there is a lower level filled with more rooms, beds and more. There is an upper level filled with Coastal themed décor, followed by rooms that made me feel nostalgic for NYC again (the Rat Pack themed room and the King Kong and Audrey Hepburn art are on my list of «wants.»)
Item after quality item, room after themed room, and couch after bed, after dresser after lamp and art, Reid Furniture is infused with style, culture, and energy.
It is ironic that a store I never would have visited in my younger years is one that I can’t wait to return to with more money (not that it is expensive at all, as I was quite surprised that so many items were much lower than I anticipated they would be.)
I always suspected my sister Amber was a good salesperson but like me, she sells from the heart and ensures that people get quality and a product that actually fits their lifestyle. Observing the other staff members during my visits reminded me of an earlier time when customer service mattered. Every customer is greeted like a friend, and leaves feeling like family.
So, I’m the kind of guy that will pick the first thing he sees without a lot of contemplation because material things and shopping don’t matter as much to me, and my wife and I needed a couch. We decided on a small one that seemed decent enough but Amber broke down what our needs were for space and comfort and made us consider our growing little one, and found us one that better suited us. Several hours later Reid Furniture delivery staff (the nicest guys I have ever met) delivered the couch and we were watching television like we had owned the most comfortable, beautiful couch for years.
My wife and I have a running checklist of items we want to purchase from Reid Furniture and will NEVER shop elsewhere because not only is it a pleasure just to browse the store and to hang out with the warm staff, but it is nice to shop somewhere that recognizes the value of your hard earned dollar in relation to the level of quality and customer service it buys.
I love Reid Furniture and I love that it is family owned and that is has been in business since 1927. I also love that it is in beautiful downtown Petoskey and that by spending my money there I am supporting local independent businesses.
If you have never been in, go asap and if you have been in but not in awhile, get in there because new items are brought in regularly.
Reid Furniture has a hometown flair, wonderful customer service and atmosphere, but boasts an international culture and flavor and a style and aesthetic equal to the best interior designers.