Walmart, Lowe’s, and other big box stores have squeezed out mom-and-pop shops nationwide for decades. But one last outpost of retail is making a stand – Amish merchants.
If you ever heard the line, “They don’t make it like they used to,” it certainly wasn’t muttered by Daniel Miller’s customers. Nor would you hear Mr. Miller say, “We don’t have that.” It’s because if they don’t have it, they’ll make it, and when they do, it will be every bit as good as it used to be.
For this reason, “Mom and Pop” Miller’s modest rural outpost in Adams County, Ohio, has grown to include a bakery and bulk food store in addition to a bustling furniture store. All of which attract people from Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and beyond.
Not much has changed since Daniel’s parents, Harry and Lydia Miller, settled here and started baking with their six children in their modest farmhouse in the 1970s. Once they shared their goods with neighbors, a business was born. Harry often visited Holmes County, Ohio, to bring back furniture to sell too. The more they provided, the more word spread, and the business grew. So the farming days for the Miller’s – raising cattle, hogs, sheep, and such – were over.
The Miller family has provided friendly service, lively conversation, and quality goods for decades. Nothing’s changed except the size of the family working behind the counters to help their patrons. No wonder their reputation has grown, floating across the land like the aroma of freshly baked pies cooked in the farmhouse kitchen.
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 solar and wind-generated energy. The Amish have excused themselves from modern conveniences, believing that a life of simplicity and hard work brings them closer to God. Families and travelers come from miles around to visit their friendly shops and to get a glimpse of the Amish way of life as they travel Wheat Ridge Road and the Wheat Ridge Amish community, which even features a historic covered bridge.
Throughout 2023, the Miller’s will show their customers appreciation with special events and discounts to reward their loyalty. They know in modern times, it’s easy to go to an “all-in-one” store around the corner to save time. But they also know that many are tired of narrow selections and lack of customer service, which is why Miller’s is a destination shopping experience. People look forward to taking a pilgrimage to a place with a wide selection of unique offerings you won’t find anywhere else.
Visitors through the years come back, time and again, because Miller’s helpful workers believe in honesty and humility, which are the bedrock of their small community. The person across the counter often made the product they were selling, like Larry Miller over at the bakery (Daniel’s brother). It’s the quality assurance that’s hard to find at a shopping mall.
They may be the last outpost of Mom & Pop shops, but they’re thriving on a business model built the old-fashioned way – they aim to please!
To plan a visit to Millers Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods and a genuine Amish community dotting the countryside of rural Adams County, call 937-544-8524 or visit www.WheatRidgeAmish.com.
