GRUBER BROTHERS

When our graduate school sofa finally bit the dust, my husband suggested going to that giant furniture store in Natick. Wanting to avoid the half-hour drive, crowds, and noise, I popped in to Gruber Brothers to see what sort of stuff they had. Well, the place is not fancily decorated but I found out they carry furniture from American manufacturers (yes, they do exist!) made from hardwood and plywood -- no flimsy chipboard. They had a good selection of styles and zillions of fabrics to choose from, not just a few colors like the mega retailers. I ran home and grabbed my husband and kids and we all tried them out. They had toys and a train table to entertain the little ones while we paged through fabric samples. All in all it was quite a painless procedure: we got some pieces that I think we are going to love and last a good long time. The sofa was less than $1000 and the rocking recliner was less than $500, which I think is a good solid deal. Oh, and they deliver and remove the old for free too.