After putting down roots in Morgantown in 2017, I had the urge to own a piece of furniture that wasn’t second-hand Ikea, but wasn’t ready to spring for full retail prices.
By way of compromise, I bought a leather armchair from a local consignment shop. This particular chair was made by a high-quality brand and was in good condition. However, because it had been owned before I could get it for 1/10 of what it would cost to buy it new. And most importantly, it looked like a very cozy reading chair.
I brought it home — whereupon I realized that the chair needed a minor repair. A seam on the underside of the seat cushion was working its way loose. It may not have been visible to the casual sitter, but it seemed like something that would grow worse over time. I wanted to get it repaired, but where — oh, where! — does one go about getting leather repaired when everything these days seems to be made to be disposable?
I was new in Morgantown at the time, and some kind person directed me to Tanner’s Alley on High Street, which has been selling and repairing leather products for decades. For around $20 the seam was expertly fixed, and my total investment in the chair was nowhere approaching the price of a new one. As a bonus, I got to view the artistry of their house-made designs when I visited the shop.
Over the last five years, that chair has proven to be more regularly used for my dog’s naps rather than my reading. However, I am still rather attached to it. And when a genuine hole — not just a loose seam — appeared in the leather (possibly from my dog repeatedly bounding onto the seat, eager for a brisk four-hour nap), I knew just where to take it.
I am certainly willing to take the chair in for a tune-up every five years. And even if I do, I don’t think the repair bills will ever add up to a brand-new chair.
EVA MURPHY is a freelance business writer for The Dominion Post. She writes a column on businesses, churches and other entities in the city. To suggestion a topic, email her at Newsroom@DominionPost.com.
