By Corinne Minard
Driving east on state Route 32 is like entering another world. Within 40 minutes, the view changes from gas stations and restaurants to the trees, fields and hills of eastern Ohio. The journey also leads to a plethora of old world shopping. Welcome to Amish Country.
The Amish of Adams County began as a farming community of seven families in the 1970s, but quickly started merchant, industry and services businesses as well. The Wheat Ridge community now consists of more than 100 households and continues to grow while preserving their processes and methods.
“Most people come up to the Amish community to get away from Cincinnati, to drive out in the country,” says Tom Cross, executive director of the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau.
“I think it’s the quaintness of it all,” says Cross. “It’s the horse and buggies. Slower pace of life out there. It’s like the life your great great grandparents had.”
Traveling down Wheat Ridge Road leads to an Adams County staple: Miller’s Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods. Opened in 1977 as a bakery by Harry and Lydia Miller, Miller’s now consists of three large stores and is still run by the Miller family.
“It’s been going, I guess they just did a good job at baking. [They had] lots of repeat customers,” says Daniel Miller, owner of the furniture store, about the business his parents started. “And we kept adding things to it.”
It can feel like it’s the warehouse store of the Amish because of the variety of merchandise in one place. As one travels from building to building, Miller’s makes it simple to purchase handcrafted picnic tables, zucchini bread and bulk baking supplies without going back to the car.
The furniture store alone covers 34,000 square feet, easily making Miller’s the largest Amish business in the area.
“Our furniture line is just a little different than most furniture stores because it is solid wood, [so] it should last for a long time,” says Miller. “That’s what people are looking for and that’s why it does good.”
Their Quarter-Sawn White Oak furniture is particularly popular because of its unique grain. “I had lots of customers that really weren’t looking for furniture, but when they’ve seen that line of wood with the cherry finish on it, they had to have it,” says Miller.
The sheer amount of wooden cabinets, freshly baked pies and homemade jellies to look through can easily make a trip to Adams County and Miller’s last more than a day.