Harden Furniture focuses on quality, design
by ANDREA KIMBRIEL Editor

David Gardner, owner of Harden Furniture, stands outside the new store location in Clarence. Photo by Jim Smerecak

Main Street in Clarence was the first choice for Harden Furniture's Northtowns relocation, said owner David Gardner. The store opened at 8316 Main St., east of Transit Road, on March 1.

Gardner said the town has a long history and smart philosophies of growth, as does Harden Furniture.

Harden Furniture was based in the Southtowns for about about 60 years before being relocated to Clarence, he said. Gardner's grandfather started it in East Aurora, and the store was later in Elma. Gardner has been in the furniture business since he was 10 years old. He started by sweeping the warehouse and eventually became the owner.

The company sells products made by Harden Furniture, a separate manufacturing company based in McConnellsville, N.Y. Gardner said it is the oldest family owned furniture business in the United States.

"One of the key things that separates Harden from other companies - they have a saying, 'We were green before it was cool,'" he said.

The manufacturing company has won a number of environmental awards for its practices. One innovation is the use of soy-based seat cushions instead of the typical oil-based product, he said.

Another distinctive aspect of the furniture offered at Harden Furniture is that 99 percent of it is made in the United States.

Gardner said an increasing number of customers have been calling to ask for products made in this country, perhaps motivated by the lead paint found on certain items made in China, and other safety issues.

"For years no one seemed to care. All they cared about was the price," he said. Now that trend seems to be changing.

Gardner said the move was prompted by the Harden manufacturing company's desire for a distributor in the Northtowns. That market was growing while the Southtowns market was remaining the same. Gardner said his business was receiving calls from residents in the Northtowns who wished to view products but did not want to travel to Elma.

"The first thing we noticed - the people of Clarence have welcomed us with open arms, and it's been refreshing," he said.

Making an investment in quality furniture is a cost savings in the long run, Gardner said. It lasts, while cheaper products must be replaced frequently.

Harden Furniture offers the opportunity to customize the pieces available. It offers 30 hand-rubbed finishes, 1,000 types of material for upholstery and a variety of other choices.

Three designers are available to give advice, even visiting homes and other spaces to assist customers with the design process.

"When you're buying this quality of furniture, why not get it the way you want it. It's not going to be on the curb in three years," he said.