For more than four decades, M. Jacobs Fine Furniture has been part of the Bend landscape, offering everything from sofas and dining sets to mattresses and Norwegian recliners. But ask store manager Catherine Monchamp what keeps customers returning year after year, and her answer has less to do with furniture, more to do with family.
“The family attitude, the looking out for each other,” Monchamp notes, “We work as a team, and we care deeply about each other.”
That sense of connection extends to customers, too. People who purchased furniture at M. Jacobs decades ago sometimes return to work with the same salesperson who helped them years earlier. Monchamp recently spoke with an older couple who had purchased a leather set more than 20 years ago. The furniture was still in great condition, they were merely ready for something new. The plan? Give the old set to their children.
Stories like that are common at M. Jacobs, where longevity is a symbol of the quality of the furniture they sell and the people who sell it.
Monchamp has been with the company for a combined 10 years. She first joined as a salesperson with no furniture experience, left and returned most recently about six years ago. She became the store manager last year after many years on the sales floor.
“I always felt like this was my family,” she reflects. Even when she was not working there, she would stop by to visit former co-workers when she was in the area. When a sales position opened again, she applied—and was welcomed back.
Today the Bend team reflects the same longevity. Salesperson Hans Johnson, who began in the warehouse before moving into sales, has been with M. Jacobs for more than 30 years. Mark Stuart, who also started in the warehouse, as been with the company for more than 20 years. Lindy Nelson has more than 15 years with M. Jacobs and brought previous furniture experience to the team. Marcus Harvey has nearly two years with the company and also came with furniture experience. The newest salesperson is Dale Claypool, whom Monchamp describes as a fixture in the furniture industry.
Behind the sales team is Tyna Hudson, office administrator; Chad Wilson and Steven Alger, warehouse and delivery; Nate Griffen, service; and Jeff Scarborough, who handles maintenance and drives the transfer truck.
The sales team is trained across the showroom rather than divided into narrow specialties. Whether a customer is looking for leather, a mattress or a dining set, each salesperson has the knowledge to assist in any way.
That matters because furniture shopping at M. Jacobs is designed to be personal—but not pushy. Customers who want guidance can get it; those who simply want to browse are welcome to do that as well.
“We’re not the type of salespeople to be following you around,” says Monchamp. “If you just want to look, come in and take your time browsing.”
The store’s 33,000-square-foot showroom features furniture sourced from around the world, including Italy, Norway, Germany, Mexico, Vietnam and the United States. M. Jacobs is also known for its Stressless seating from Norway, designed with ergonomic support and available in different sizes and cushioning options, and of course, colors. Some customers have owned their chairs for decades and eventually pass them along to family members.
Monchamp has also brought more color into the showroom, moving beyond the years when gray dominated home décor. Her goal is to create a space that feels inviting while showing customers the range of possibilities.
For her, a beautiful room isn’t necessarily about buying everything new that matches. Instead, she recommends choosing one anchor piece—such as a sofa—and building around what you already own. A couple of swivel chairs, pillows or throw blankets can change the feel of a room without requiring a complete makeover.
Ultimately, Monchamp hopes customers leave feeling welcome and comfortable, whether they make a purchase or simply walk through the showroom.
“Feel at home,” Monchamp encourages. “Definitely no pressure, we just want to share our space with you.”
Furniture may be what brings people through the door, but at M. Jacobs, relationships are what keeps them coming back.
The History of M. Jacobs Fine Furniture
Maurie and Sylvie Jacobs left Chicago for Oregon in the 1930’s, heading west to follow their dreams. Maurie’s dream was to open a retail store, and in 1938 he opened what was then called Sterling Furniture in Eugene. Fast forward 89 years, and today seven stores known as the M. Jacobs Fine Furniture “family of stores” have grown from that first business to include M. Jacobs in Bend, stores in Eugene as well as Michael’s Leather and Oak, Michael’s Home Store and M. Jacobs Mattress Gallery.
The family legacy continues under the leadership of Maurie and Sylvie’s daughter, Sheila and their son-in-law Michael Schwartz. The M. Jacobs Fine Furniture store in Bend opened in 1980 and has evolved to provide Central Oregon buyers with full line and top brand name home furnishings, along with contemporary lines that provide customization options.
Family traditions are central to the M. Jacobs business and to the personal life of the extended Schwartz family. Michael and Sheila have been married 60 years, have three daughters, three sons-in-law, eight grandchildren, and four dogs, all of whom return to Eugene each year for the holidays.
Creating comfortable home environments is a mission of M. Jacobs, and the Schwartz’s home reflects this. They have created a place where the entire family loves to gather, especially at the holidays. “Everyone wants to be ‘in’ the house,” where they can all be together, Michael says. “They all find a way to be at home for Thanksgiving.”
M. Jacobs Fine Furniture
2994 NE O B Riley Rd. | Bend, Oregon 97701 | 541.382.5900
Hours of Operation: 7 days a week, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
MJacobsFurniture.com
Make Room for Cozy
Central Oregon winters invite us to slow down and settle in. A comfortable chair or sofa, layered with soft throws, pillows and warm textures, can turn any corner into a welcoming retreat. Here are a couple of Catherine Monchamp’s picks for settling in this season:
Stressless Wing Chair
The elegant, high-back Wing chair offers ergonomic spine support in a design that complements a variety of décor. Available in numerous colors, it’s made for cozy reading or settling in for a winter movie.
Stressless Stella Sofa
A favorite in the Stressless collection, Stella features removable headrests, extra-wide seats and a rocking motion that can be locked or unlocked. Add the matching ottoman and put your feet up for total relaxation.