Owner Jim Everson stands next to a truck that serves his newly expanded business. Customers will now be able to get new furniture and upholstery work done under the same roof, he said. Everson's Upholstery in St. Ignace has relocated, changed its name, and expanded operations. The new business on First Street opened Wednesday, August 16, and is now called Everson's Home Furnishings.

Owners Jim and Kyle Everson have constructed a large building to house new furniture, bedding, flooring, and window treatments. The merchandise is under the same roof as Everson's re-upholstery operation.

"People here will give you their business if you sell quality products and offer good service, which we're doing," said Mr. Everson. "We want to keep people from having to drive elsewhere to shop."

The re-upholstery shop, staffed full time by Bill Harju, gives customers the option to repair a piece of furniture or give it an entirely new look. "Nothing needs to go back to the factory, not even bedding," Mr. Everson said.

The Eversons have been in the re-upholstery business for 30 years and also own a furniture store in Newberry.

As a new furniture dealer, Mr. Everson said, he enjoys working with credible suppliers, such as

Simmons, La-Z-Boy, Flexsteel, and Lane, who protect their dealers and offer proven quality.

Mrs. Everson manages the books and her father, Carl Avery, is the full-time salesman.

A 1974 graduate of LaSalle High School, Mr. Everson has lived in St. Ignace all of his life. He worked at his parent's business, The Stop Party Store, when he was a boy. Of his eight siblings, his brother, Pete, and his sister, Jean Massaway, remain in the St. Ignace area.

The Eversons have two boys. Nathan, 21, a graduate student at Ferris State University, and Evan, 14, a freshman at LaSalle High School.