upholstery and furniture manufacturing company since 1936
9221 Roosevelt Way NE
phone 206-522-1229
fax 206-522-1380
SEATTLE'S PREMIERE BUILDER OF CUSTOM FURNITURE
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL UPHOLSTERY
9221 ROOSEVELT WAY NORTHEAST SEATTLE, WA 98115
PHONE 206-522-1229 FAX 206-522-1380 | WWW.AWHOSSANDSON.COM
A.W. HOSS & SON, INC
PRESS QUICK LINKS
RICH HOSS breaks it down this way: "In school, it's like, 'Do you wanna make Bill Gates money or do you wanna work with your hands?' "
That can be a false choice.
He should know. Hoss is co-owner of A.W. Hoss & Son, a North Seattle custom-furniture and upholstery business that was started in 1936 by his grandfather, Amos W. Hoss.
Like the metalsmiths at Black Dog Forge, Hoss does not, in fact, make "Bill Gates money," but there is something to be said for keeping a family business in operation, and largely successful, for three-quarters of a century.
Still, "When I put a job posting out there, I just don't get the calls," he says.
"Maybe people don't want a good middle-class job."
He's joking, of course, but there is some truth to the paradox of a society nearing 10 percent unemployment with job openings that can't be filled for lack of workers with the proper skills.
We value handmade things, but perhaps not enough to encourage our kids to choose hands-on jobs as a career.
One way to keep the trades alive is to pass skills down the family line, the way it has been done at Hoss. The current generation of owners — Rich and his twin brother, Larry, who are 38, and their sister, Susie Hoss, 32 — hung out in the shop and worked there as kids.
"It's being part of a legacy," says Susie, who returned seven years ago after studying pre-med in Kentucky. "And it's a community here."
She's obviously proud to be part of a longstanding family business with examples of its work all over, from the W Hotel in Seattle to The Getty Center in Los Angeles.
But there's also a pride in the craft of furniture-making itself.
"If you open a piece of our furniture, you won't find anything that we didn't produce," says Susie, who works more on the marketing side of the business.
We value handmade things, but perhaps not enough to encourage our kids to choose hands-on jobs as a career.
One way to keep the trades alive is to pass skills down the family line, the way it has been done at Hoss. The current generation of owners — Rich and his twin brother, Larry, who are 38, and their sister, Susie Hoss, 32 — hung out in the shop and worked there as kids.
"My father would always tell you, 'You have to learn a skill. You need to learn how to do something,' " Susie Hoss recalls. "He wanted us to learn to do something with our hands that you couldn't find anywhere else. His thinking was, 'If you can build something, you'll always have a job.' "
The kids all left the family business after high school, attended college and planned to do different things. But all three eventually made their way back to the factory.
"It's being part of a legacy," says Susie, who returned seven years ago after studying pre-med in Kentucky. "And it's a community here."
She's obviously proud to be part of a longstanding family business with examples of its work all over, from the W Hotel in Seattle to The Getty Center in Los Angeles.
But there's also a pride in the craft of furniture-making itself.
"If you open a piece of our furniture, you won't find anything that we didn't produce," says Susie, who works more on the marketing side of the business.
Brother Rich pulls the fabric cover off a seat to show the intricate web of jute-cord ropes that support rows of coil springs.
"Every knot is tied by hand — a machine could never do it," Susie says. It can take eight hours of tedious handiwork to stretch the ropes and tie them to the coils in a perfectly-spaced, interlocking pattern. One sofa can take 30 hours to make.
This rope-and-coil technique produces a far more durable seat, one that will retain its shape and strength for several decades. Don't get the Hosses going on comparisons between their work and furniture sold at big-box stores.
In tough times, the trades offer pride and a paycheck
Tyrone Beason is a Pacific Northwest magazine staff writer. Benjamin Benschneider is a magazine staff photographer.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
At A.W. Hoss and Son, Inc., Javier Heras reupholsters an old love seat entirely by hand, bringing new life to a fine piece of furniture. While the economic downturn has generally caused a slowdown in the purchase of durable goods, the Hoss company has seen more customers coming in to have furniture pieces restored.
Jose Rodriguez hand ties springs in a vintage chair at Hoss. In recent years, schools dropped some trades programs in favor of more academic-oriented classes. Now, with demand for training on the rise, some are hoping the programs will be restored.
My father would always tell you, 'You have to learn a skill. You need to learn how to do something,' " Susie Hoss recalls. "He wanted us to learn to do something with our hands that you couldn't find anywhere else. His thinking was, 'If you can build something, you'll always have a job.' "
The kids all left the family business after high school, attended college and planned to do different things. But all three eventually made their way back to the factory.
Customers increasingly wary of quality-control issues in our globalized economy demand the family's kind of meticulous production. A common question when people visit the showroom: Is this made in China?
"They will pay more money if it's domestic," Susie says. "And they can walk back here and see what we're doing."
The furniture business, like just about every other durable-goods business, has suffered a steep decline in the recession — but that has meant more customers coming to Hoss to restore pieces they already own, Susie Hoss says.
It's a good thing the Hoss family has mastered these age-old techniques, given how tough it is to find skilled workers. "You can look for two or three years before you can find someone who can sew at the level we need," Susie Hoss says. "It's a dying art. Nobody's using their hands anymore."
Maybe that's why, even though desk jobs represent the chosen path to success and happiness for most of us today, we are so fascinated by skills for which dexterity is the key to mastery, to say nothing of quality
Some local residents may not realize that one of the first companies to ever arrive in Maple Leaf remains right in the heart of the neighborhood.
A.W. Hoss & Son, an upholstery and furniture manufacturing company at 9221 Roosevelt Way N.E, has been family-run and owned in the Seattle area since 1936.
The upholstery company, which has done work for major national and local commercial businesses including Nordstrom and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, was built on Broadway in Capitol Hill by Amos W. Hoss. His sons, Larry Hoss and Allan Hoss, migrated the businesses to Maple Leaf in 1960, originally in an older, smaller home located across the street from the current warehouse. At the time, most of Maple Leaf had been annexed into Seattle for only six years.
After 40 years the business finally outgrew it's space and moved across the street into what is now the largest custom furniture showroom in the metro area.
What kind of furniture should you bring into A.W. Hoss?
“We redo anything, but we’re honest with people. We mostly reupholster furniture from the 1930s and 40s, as well as custom build furniture for our customers,” explains Rich Hoss, one of three of Larry Hoss’ children.
The shop also offers a variety of fabric and leathers that are suitable for commercial and residential use.
A legendary family business in the heart of Maple Leaf
Originally puplished by The Seattle Times July 2009
By Tyrone Beason; Photographed by Benjamin Benschneider
For those interested in an environmentally friendly home or shop, Hoss has a full line of “green” products, ranging from recycled and natural fabrics to soy-based foam.
The family business is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. To honor the company’s successful years, A.W. Hoss will be having special deals starting on the first of each month, something the company has have never done before.
The shop will also be offering 5 percent off an order if you “like” them on Facebook.
A.W. Hoss is happy to provide service to their local neighbors and businesses. “We’re proud of the quality work we do. We don’t cut any corners. Everything is done kind of old school here,” Rich said.
Maple Leaf neighbors should be proud to know that they contribute 30 percent of the company’s business, and will receive some special treatment. “We provide free delivery and free pick up only for Maple Leaf residents, or those within a five-mile radius of the store,” said Susie Hoss, daughter of Larry.
Make sure to check out the website to find out what the signature deals each month will be. Or, swing on by the store, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
If you're in the neighborhood stop by to look at fabrics, get some new ideas for your own home, or just to chat, we're always here!
Katie Melton is the intern for Maple Leaf Life. She is a journalism student at the University of Washington.
Copyright © 2011 Maple Leaf Life
Originally published on: Maple Leaf Life February 22nd, 2011
By Katie Melton; Photographed by Katie Melton
