THaT*s Incredible
Written by: Nick Brandi
Mike Ringer created something utterly unique when he founded THaT* Furniture Store in 2005. In fact, THaT* is so unlike its competitors, it’s something of a misnomer even to think of it as merely a “furniture store” in the traditional sense. What THaT* Furniture Store really is, is an experience, an event, a place where nice people come together to pique their passions for décor and design, to unearth rare, sometimes one-of-a-kind pieces in order to embellish their own domestic showplaces, and often simply to gaze in wide-eyed wonder at the treasure trove of unforgettable offerings at prices so absurdly low, they are guaranteed to make your jaw hit the floor faster than a NASA scientist after learning there is actually water on the moon.
"I’m all about atypical, not only in terms of my inventory selection but also my business philosophy."
— Mike Ringer
“I’m all about atypical,” Ringer said, “not only in terms of my inventory selection but also my business
philosophy. This means that more than anything else, I’d rather under promise and over deliver, which is not the typical way it’s done in this industry.”
Thankfully, such is standard operating procedure at THaT* Furniture Store. As a case in point, consider this: a brand-new, eight-way hand-tied down-cushioned tufted sofa in rich gold fabric that the manufacturer suggests be sold for $10,377 but that is on sale at THaT* Furniture Store for an astonishing $1,795. Seriously.
Got your attention? Good, then how about a positively majestic nine-foot-by-eight-foot solid-oak library cabinet with glass doors and fluted accents that THaT* Furniture Store is offering for $2,495, even though the manufacturer says it’s worth $6,851? Its Memory Foam mattresses have been a tremendous hit. At 80 percent off the name brand’s selling price, customers enjoy getting an amazing night’s sleep at such an affordable deal. For instance, queen sets that sell else where for $2,669 are available at THaT* Furniture Store for just $539... You’ll find an array of accent pieces at awesome discounts, like solid-wood barstools that sell elsewhere for $175, here for just $68.
Ringer would be the first to tell you that his tastes are very eclectic — as are the contents of the 10,000 square feet that he devotes to his inventory.
“All my life I’ve been something of a treasure hunter, excavating around the corners of life,” said Ringer, whose wife Dianne works with him at the store. “My favorite thing is to unearth that previously undiscovered jewel and then present it to the world.”
And that’s precisely the feeling you get when you stand and survey the showroom of THaT* Furniture Store. Sure, there are antique reproductions in English oak and mahogany, many rare, exotic hardwoods and enough buttery Italian leather sofas to make your arteries clog on the spot, but there are also treasures like the timelessly distressed motif of Habersham-style tables as well as the increasingly trendy line of Gotico furniture and accents, which are only available locally at THaT* Furniture Store. But don’t delay, because 97 percent of THaT* Furniture Store’s inventory are one-time-only acquisitions, which means that once you pick out your plum pieces, you will surely be the only one in your neighborhood to have them.
“I came to Mike at THaT* Furniture Store in 2007, after the interior of my home was destroyed by a flood,” shared Greg Kimble, an A-list Hollywood visual-effects supervisor who vacations at his home in Fenwick Island and whose credits include “Superman: The Movie,” “Braveheart,” “The Right Stuff,” “Independence Day” and “Superman Returns.” Kimble said, “I feel as if I practically walked away with a whole new life, thanks to Mike and his staff, who were relentlessly wonderful. In fact, I’m so pleased with THaT* Furniture Store, I’m not only throwing a party for them to celebrate my home’s ‘re-debut,’ so to speak, I’m also advising him on a new lighting scheme for the store, so that his inventory gets the illustrious showcasing it deserves.”
But Hollywood veterans are not the only ones to give Ringer a ringing endorsement.
“I can’t tell you how many great unique and individual pieces I picked up at THaT* Furniture Store,” praised Washington D.C.-insider Connie Myer, who works as a government-relations consultant for the prestigious firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough, LLP. “They make the process so comfortable and easy. They’re professional yet very familiar — and they have this great way of seeing the big picture and putting everything together no matter how eclectic or divergent your pieces may be. They just went way beyond my expectations – and I have high expectations.”
But the real beauty of THaT* Furniture Store is that their spectacular heirloom-like treasures and exemplary service are available to the entire community at prices within the reach of any budget. Incidentally, the next time you’re at THaT* Furniture Store — after you’ve said hi to sweetheart sales associates Kathy, Nancy, Joan and Sandy — remember to ask Mike what “THaT*” actually stands for. (Hint: It’s more than just a catchy trade name.)
“So many of our visitors are here just to look around, sit and chat about what’s new in the store,” Ringer shared with palpable pride. “We don’t do the pressure thing here, so whether or not you’re here to buy, everyone’s welcome. We don’t believe in pushing products. We do, however, believe in building for relationships.”
Stop in and become part of the family while you browse to your heart’s content at THaT* Furniture Store, Rt. 13, 1005 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Md., 410-546-THaT (8428),
www.thatfurniturestore.net.