Selling items that last for decades may not sound like the best business model.
But for 20 years, Ebert Furniture Gallery has prided itself in selling high-qualify, American-made furniture made to last.
“I’m in business now over 21 years, and I have customers just now replacing sofas and chairs and recliners that they bought from me in 2004,” store owner Greg Ebert said.
That’s the year Ebert opened Ebert Furniture Gallery at 3602 Broadway in South Whitehall Township, selling sofas, chairs, dining sets, beds, desks, TV stands, artwork, rugs, and services for interior design and home decoration.
After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1993, Ebert took business classes at night and worked at various furniture stores over the next decade in the Lehigh Valley, including La-Z-Boy on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township.
“From the time I started in ’93 until 2003, I saw a progressive decline in the quality of furniture that was offered by local retailers,” he said. “And the main reason for this was a lot of established brands had gone to China and Vietnam, and they were sacrificing quality for price. Now, that was the main complaint of the customers. They’d rather … you get what you pay for, and they didn’t want disposable furniture. They wanted furniture that was going to last like what they had previously purchased.”
Ebert’s opportunity at the Broadway property came when owner David W. Haines of Joseph I. Haines Appliance Store retired and sold the building.
“When I started looking at the building, they still had appliances in here,” he said. “They were nearing retirement — really, really nice family, they still live locally — and that’s when we looked at it and we said, ‘Wow, this is an ideal location that hardly needs any modification.’ “
“You’re actually getting a better value when you buy a better product, and it’s better for everything,” he said. “It’s better for the environment, it’s made by people that are making a living wage, so it’s just better for everyone.”
Overall, furniture is a $172.5 billion industry in the United States, according to industry analysis firm IBISWorld. There are more than 59,000 furniture stores as of 2025, a figure that has grown and is dominated by big brands like Ashley Furniture — which holds the largest market share — and Williams-Sonoma, IBISWorld said.
According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, more than $11.6 billion was spent on furniture in the U.S. in August 2025, the latest data available. That’s up from $11 billion the prior year but down from a high of $12.6 billion in January 2023. Sales also are largely dependent on the economy; they tanked during the COVID pandemic in 2020, as well as during the recession that began in 2008, data shows.
Ebert Furniture Gallery lived through those economic downturns while fighting against what Ebert said was a decline in furniture quality — 98% of the store’s merchandise is manufactured in the United States, including nearby in Lebanon and Punxsutawney. Customers have included not only individual residents but also Coca-Cola Park, Hotel Bethlehem and ZEST Bar + Grille.
Ebert’s memories at the store include not only building his relationships with customers, but also with his family. His wife, Roey, is responsible for the store’s artwork, and their children, Max, Vivien, Jack, Lana, Duke and Pierce, have all worked there at one point or another.
“The kids have helped in the store from little on up,” Ebert said. “So usually starting in about middle school, they start helping in the warehouse, they cut the grass and [help] with deliveries. I work a lot and it’s enabled me to spend more time with my children as they help me in the business. And they still do.”
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
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Ebert Furniture Gallery is seen Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
“It’s been great, always working with some type of family member, so it’s been fun,” said Jack, who now works in sales at Cintas. “It makes it easier to communicate, I’d say.”
“It’s kind of crazy to realize that he’s been doing it for 20 years, but it’s impressive,” said Lana, who works for the federal government in Virginia.
With 30 years of painting experience, Roey uses acrylic paint and sometimes oil for creating floral and landscape paintings — “not a lot of realism, but my paintings have a lot of texture.”
Regarding how far the furniture gallery has come, Roey said, “When you think of where we started … it’s just so great, and I’m really proud of Greg and the kids are so proud of him too. It’s just really a great feeling, to know that the community supports him and that it’s stood the test of time. And that when he puts furniture in the home, then it’s really nice quality because he spends a lot of time really, really thinking about the quality of furniture that goes into a home.”
Ebert Furniture Gallery’s showroom is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It offers design services by appointment.
Lehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief
Barley Creek Taproom Saucon opened at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township.
Staples will close Jan. 2 at the Whitehall Square shopping center at 2180 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township.
Children’s Art Classes held a grand opening and ribbon cutting Wednesday at 327 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce announced in a news release, where it offers art education for children.
HiJinx Brewing Co. will close its taproom on Dec. 20 at 905 Harrison St. in Allentown and end brewery operations at the location Dec. 31.
The pet salon Velvet Tails – Luxury Pet Services held a grand opening Friday at 39 Belvidere St. in Nazareth, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber announced.
The Kawaii Shop has opened at Promenade Saucon Valley, where it offers Japanese snacks, drinks, plush toys, ornaments, bags and artwork.
Retail Watch is a weekly column covering retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question, tip, or want to see something in the area? Contact retail reporter Graysen Golter at retailwatch@mcall.com.