The business many folks in Grande Prairie know as Midwest on Main has been known by a few different names down the years and has served the community’s residents at a number of different locations.
What has always remained constant, however, is the locally owned and operated furniture, appliance and home decor store’s commitment to providing Grande Prairie and northwest Alberta with quality products priced fairly and backed by exceptional customer service.
It’s a business model that hasn’t always been easy, admits owner Bob Stevenson, but it has nevertheless been, and continues to be, a rewarding one.
“I think we’ve got a good reputation in town as being honest and trustworthy,” says Stevenson, who got his start in the industry unloading trucks at the old Midwest Home Furnishings, out on the bypass, which was owned by a friend’s family. “We’re not a chain or anything. We’re grass-roots.”
Midwest on Main’s roots in Grande Prairie go deep. Over his nearly 40 years of ownership, Stevenson has dealt with the children of his initial customers and is now doing business with their children. He credits customer service with a local touch as being one of the reasons why multiple generations have trusted his store to supply them with everything from dining room sets and sectionals to washers, dryers, area rugs and furnishings.
“We’ve tried to treat our customers as friends as opposed to people just coming into our business,” he says. “We’ve built up a clientele from day one, and we still have people dealing with us today who did their first business with us in 1985. We look after people.”
For example, as anyone who has ordered furniture or appliances online or from a big box store will know, delivery and assembly of those items has almost become a luxury – an add-on service. Not so with Midwest on Main. Stevenson’s store delivers, and then assembles, the products they sell.
“We don’t just dump it on your front lawn,” he says. “We take it inside and hook it up, and if there’s a problem, we look after it. Even if it’s just a scratch. Our main goal is to make our customers happy, and I think that’s what has kept us going.”
Midwest on Main also sells on consignment, and their rent-to-own arrangement is another nod to its roots. Previously known as Midwest Furniture Rentals, the business started out as a place where customers who might not have been able to afford a large, one-time furniture purchase could acquire their needed items on a payment plan.
“We do all sorts of stuff like that, and we’ve never had banks or finance companies bankrolling [the rent-to-own],” explains Stevenson. “For the consignment, it’s still quite big because there’s really no place in town where you can bring your used furniture and appliances other than the dump. We bring it into your store, and we sell it for you.”
As the business has evolved, so has the new furniture, appliances and decor available at Midwest on Main. Today, they carry quality items from GE, Maytag, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Ashley and Dynasty, among other brands. Comparing his operation with the big chains, Stevenson calls himself “the little guy that sticks around.”
In truth, he’s done a lot more than that.
Acknowledging the importance of the community to its success as a business, Midwest on Main proudly supports Grande Prairie Live Theatre – providing props and furniture – as well as Ronald McDonald House and local minor baseball.
“All the little money we make stays right here in town,” says Stevenson. “I love being in Grande Prairie.”
Midwest on Main, located at 10012, 100 Ave in Grande Prairie, AB, is open Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. They can be reached by calling (780) 532-4940, and information regarding their products and services is available on their website.
