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Excerpt from April 2009 edition of OhioTraveler by Frank R. Satullo

STAYCATIONS DRIVING PEOPLE AMISH

The down economy has brought many folks back to basics. And that’s just what Amish merchants like Miller’s Furniture & Bakery cater to in Southern Ohio’s Wheat Ridge Amish community.  

Yesteryear’s family daytrip is today’s staycation where an inexpensive exploration of something unique near home is the way to spend a day. Many are even packing picnic baskets instead of hitting the nearest drive-through while en-route to their weekend adventure.  

Miller’s offers not only a great escape at a great price, they can load you up on anything you need while you’re there – picnic foods, baked goods, indoor & outdoor wood furniture galore, and bulk foods for you to stock up and take home.  

Off the beaten path, a pilgrimage down Wheat Ridge Road in the family truckster (okay SUV) will treat its passengers with a view of the simple life. Miller’s is in the heart of Adams County Amish Country in Southern Ohio nestled in the picturesque foothills of Appalachia. It is here that the senses dance to the rhythmic spin of a buggy wheel, the harmony of a handcrafted armoire getting fine tuned, and a hypnotizing breeze carrying the oven-fresh-baked apple pie across the field.   

A trip here is a trip to yesteryear where we could all take a lesson in living the good life with less. There is plenty that the Amish can teach us about scaling back and enjoying better quality during tough times.   

Some things stand out in contrast to big box shopping. Instead of buying cheap goods at a cheap price, Miller’s prides itself on providing top-notch quality at bargain prices. Not only that, their goods aren’t made overseas or mass produced. Not only do you buy heirloom quality, you buy authenticity. And if they don’t have what you want, they’ll make it! It’s the Amish way of doing business. 

The workmanship at Miller’s isn’t just crafty, it’s creative. In this economy, maybe hand crafted furniture in cherry wood is over the budget but you really want to have a quality wood piece for less. Miller’s can turn brown maple to look just like cherry and save you a pretty penny. So it goes.

Not much has changed in the 32 years since Harry and Lydia Miller settled here. In 1977, they started baking with their six children in the farmhouse. All it took was sharing their baked goods before people stopped by in droves to buy some bread, pies, cinnamon roll, you name it. Harry would often visit Holmes County, Ohio and bring back furniture, which sold, well, like hotcakes. The more trips, the more furniture, the more sales. And so the farming days for the Miller’s, raising cattle, hogs, sheep and such gave way to a thriving baking and woodworking business.   

Today, the 300-acre farm has 34,000 square feet of furniture under one roof, plus more outside, and a separate building for the bakery and another for the bulk food store. The cash registers are powered by wind-generated energy. Plus the Miller’s use a lot of solar energy and air compressors. In the parking lot, it’s not uncommon for a horse and buggy to be standing next to a BMW.  

The Miller family is in its third generation in their Adams County, Ohio home. Most of Harry and Lydia’s children run things now. Daniel is at the Furniture Store, Larry at the Bakery, and Harry Jr. at the Bulk Food Store. Malinda helps too. The other two sons, Gerold and David come back often to visit. All together, the six children have provided Harry and Lydia 20 grandkids. With that, the family business and legacy looks like it will continue serving their loyal customers for years to come. 

Throughout 2009, the Miller’s have special events planned to give back to their customers in times of greater need by offering specials from wood products to baked goods and more. Updates and details are posted at www.ohiotraveler.com/ohio_amish_stores.htm.  

For a day in the country, Miller’s is a crossroads in time. The Amish offerings at Miller’s Bakery, Furniture and Bulk Foods are plentiful and diverse. You name it they have it. But if by chance they don’t, they’ll make it – just like they’ve been doing for decades. 

By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler