Cleveland Magazine
It’s an idea that you have had in your head for awhile now. You want to buy a dining room set, something well-made and which will become a family heirloom someday. You want the table big enough to seat your family and friends, the chairs comfortable enough so conversations can continue after dessert.
But you are not quite sure what you want. Although you have torn some “almost right” pictures from magazines and have made a basic sketch on a scrap of paper, you need help. Nothing you have seen in the furniture stores is quite right either.
“Our customization is great,” boasts Chris Moyse, who co-owns Woodforest Furniture with his wife, Jenny. “Bring in that simplistic drawing or maybe an inspirational photo and we will bring that picture to life. And we will make it from real wood and save you a lot of money.”
Woodforest Furniture sources maple, oak, hickory, walnut, cherry and other species of trees primarily from Wayne and Holmes counties. The company partners with more than 80 Amish builders in Ohio for its wood products. It turns to Lancer Furniture, a respected, American-made, upholstery business, to offer furniture for every room.
“All the finishes our builders use are safe and formaldehyde free. Babies can chew on our cribs, and you don’t have to worry about that like you would with imported furniture that may not be toxin-free,” says Jenny Moyse. “The Amish do old school practices, but in their own modern ways.”
Woodforest Furniture was founded about 11 years ago by Chris’ father, Gary Moyse, who had more than 30 years in the industry. At one point there were two store locations, one in Avon (originally near Pickering Hill Farms on Detroit Road) and the other in Olmsted Township. Gary hired his then 16-year-old grandson, Jared, to help with deliveries, a part of the family business he manages today.
Looking to retire, Gary asked his son Chris, a former police officer for the City of Brecksville, to take the helm of Woodforest Furniture, which happened gradually. Woodforest Furniture moved to its current Avon location in 2024 and opened in a building with an appealing store front that “draws people in,” according to Chris.
Today, in addition to custom furniture, Woodforest Furniture offers: bedroom, dining, office, living room and youth collections; specialty pieces (including bar pieces); and outdoor furniture. Jenny suggests if someone needs furniture immediately to consider showroom floor items, which are instantly available.
A recent partnership was formed between the company and T3 Performance, a large Northeast Ohio athletic training facility in Avon, that sees more than 500,000 visitors of all ages and abilities annually. Woodforest Furniture provided poly outdoor furniture for the complex’s volleyball court area and lobby.