When Vernon Johnson founded The Home Center in 1950 to focus on building houses with his wife Charcelene, the company was located in their garage. Years later, their son Bob moved back to Bend to join the family business after graduating from college.
“My dad ended up buying one of the last houses they built in 1980 off of Eagle Road, and that's where I grew up,” says Bob’s son, Dave Johnson. His father and his aunt, Charcie, ran the business, now known as Johnson Brothers Appliances, until 2015, when Bob passed away.
At that time, Dave retired from a 20-year career as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and returned to Bend to join the family business as president/general manager. “It's an honor and a blessing to keep their legacy alive and also have a mature business to be able to step into and keep going,” he says. He joined his aunt and his mother, Marsha, and soon after, his brother Brian came on board as well.
This year, the store is celebrating its 75th anniversary and is an institution in Bend, encompassing an impressive 30,000 square feet. A true family business, it continues to carry the values that his grandparents established.
“We’re a completely local company. We don't have stores outside of the area, and our legacy is being able to take care of our local community,” says Dave Johnson. “This includes finding some one-off solutions that some of the bigger companies can't, and really staying true to our roots with that personalized service.”
More than a few of the employees have been with the business for many years. “We had somebody retire a couple of years ago with 35 years of service, and other employees who have been here 20, 30 years. They built relationships with repeat and new customers through generations, because the parents who bought from us now have kids who are buying appliances for their own homes.”
Everyone on staff has a high level of expertise. “The appliance world is surprisingly complex,” Johnson says. “There are so many manufacturers, models and regulations. Things change over time, so there are constantly new features that come out and we’re really able to help curate and find solutions for what our customers need.”
Johnson Brothers offers home appliances from basic models to those with new and improved features. For example, although induction cooking has been around for quite a while, there's been an increased interest in induction cooking as some homeowners transition away from cooking with gas. Induction uses a magnetic field to heat the pan itself unlike a traditional electric range. A very efficient cooking method, it offers the fastest boiling time of any cooking technology.
When it comes to newer ovens, including microwave ovens, many now have air fryer technology built in. “Some microwaves now also have toasting functions and convection so you can bake cookies in them. They can basically act as second ovens.”
With refrigerators, the biggest improvement is with efficiency. “If you're replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator, your energy bill is probably going to be cut in half,” notes Johnson. Additionally, a lot of manufacturers are looking at factors in food preservation, such as filtering out ethylene gas to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. Other manufacturers have incorporated cameras inside refrigerators, making it possible to see inside while at the grocery store, to purchase what is needed.
All-in-one washers and dryers are generating a lot of interest too, especially for those living in apartments or for homeowners who may want two units to do more laundry at one time. “The technology is continuing to get better, and there are a couple of manufacturers that now have a two-hour cycle that is able to wash and dry a normal sized load.”
Johnson Brothers Appliances has one of the largest warehouses and inventory of appliances in Central Oregon. For those who may need an appliance right away to those seeking a customized product, the store can deliver – literally. “We are full service, which includes delivery and installation, including custom installs of built-in appliances. We can also service most of the products that we sell for the life of that product.”
The advantage of any smaller business or any family owned business, Johnson explains, is that it can be very responsive and dynamic. “We have a very short decision loop – if we need to change a policy or come up with a one-off solution to meet a customer's needs, it can be done fast. Plus, I'm right here and people can walk into my office anytime and ask me questions.”
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“We’re a completely local company... and our legacy is being able to take care of our local community."
- Dave Johnson, co-owner of Johnson Brothers Appliances