The team at Leon's Furniture in Medicine Hat is like a family, and not just because, in most cases, they actually are family. The store celebrates its 25th anniversary this month.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
lthomson@medicinehatnews.com
Locally owned and family operated for three generations, Medicine Hat’s Leon’s Furniture is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.
Opened late in 1996 with a grand opening in January of 1997, Leon’s was launched by Lewis and Della Schile. Lewis owned and operated the Furniture Barn for 21 years previous to opening Leon’s.
“When he retired, he decided that he wasn’t quite ready to retire, so he and my mom, they (opened Leon’s) together,” said Trina Towner, Lewis and Della’s daughter and the current owner and manager at Leon’s.
“They had a vision and they decided that they wanted to embark on this journey with Leon’s. Leon’s is a family in its own right, it’s a family run business, too,” said Towner. “It seemed like a really good fit to become part of their organization so they acquired the Leon’s franchise rights in Medicine Hat and here we are today. That vision is carrying on and I think it makes my dad proud and it makes me proud that now my son has stepped into the mix and is moving forward.”
As mentioned above, Towner’s son Brad Towner has been officially working for Leon’s since 2007, making it a three-generation operation.
“Sometimes the fourth generation comes in and works, too. The grand kids come in and stuff sales bill folders or stamp bills or shred paper … They clean and dust and vacuum. So we’ve definitely had the fourth generation here, too,” Towner laughed as she recalled.
Towner says the journey has been an interesting one.
“Twenty-five years ago, if you had asked me if I’d be sitting here today, I would’ve probably not known the answer,” said Towner. “It’s been a fun ride, it definitely has been a fun journey to take, and it makes it more of a memorable journey because we are with our family.”
Towner spoke to the support given by the community, through both customers and staff.
“We’re thankful to Medicine Hat for supporting local businesses. As we try to navigate through the trying times of COVID, we will get there, it’s just going to take time. We have great customers and great staff. Our staff is like family.
“We just really appreciate the support we’ve been given from the people of Medicine Hat for the last 25 years, and we hope we can continue to serve the people of Medicine Hat for another 25 years and help them with their home furnishing needs and making their houses into homes.”
