Local furniture store Haven Home Furnishings has been purchased by new owners after the previous owners retired following 30 years in business.

Ashley White, one of the new owners of the store at 65 N. State St. in Preston, said she and her husband, Nick, purchased the store with Tyler and Erin Seamons. White’s parents were among the previous owners.

“They were part owners with another couple,” White said. “It worked great to have partners.”

White said she and her husband wanted to take over the store when her parents retired because she wanted to get to know more people and serve the community.

“I was a high school teacher for 10 years,” White said. “I saw an opportunity to be a business owner, and I thought it was a good time to take it.”

White said she has known the Seamons for a long time. When her parents decided to retire, her father reached out to them to ask if they would be interested in becoming part owners of the store.

“Tyler worked with my dad,” White said. “My dad was the matchmaker there.”

White looks forward to operating Haven Home Furnishings because it will give her a chance to connect with people. She also looks forward to the business side of the store.

“I enjoy the bookkeeping part of it and just being able to make decisions for it,” White said.

The new owners plan to keep the business mostly the same. They plan to eventually establish more of an online presence, but everything else will likely stay the same.

“It worked so well for so long,” White said. “The previous owners did a lot of research into quality brands.”

Haven Home Furnishings features couches, tables, bed frames, bookshelves and kitchen appliances. Brands include La-Z-Boy, Speed Queen and Whirlpool.

“There’s quite a few more, but those are the most popular,” White said.

Operating the business has been an interesting experience for White and her partners. Each has had to learn new skills to make the business work.

“It’s a totally different industry for me,” White said. “I was in education, and they were in manufacturing. It is a challenge, but it’s fun to figure things out.”

Though adjusting to operating the business has been difficult, there have been plenty of opportunities to connect with people. One of White’s friends from high school visited the store to make a purchase, which White found exciting.

“It was great to catch up,” White said.

More information about Haven Home Furnishings can be found at haven-home-furnishings.com.