The renaissance of furniture retail in Alaska

EAGLE RIVER — Customers say that it’s “the nicest store in all of Alaska.” You wouldn’t want to argue with that either. It accurately describes the treasure chest found at Cozy Interiors in Eagle River: glass birds, masterful lamps, cowhide backed chairs, fine wood dining tables, top quality mattresses, even red bar stools to delight you.

The owners, Matt and Melissa Hickey of Eagle River, after selling carpet and cabinets for 27 years at Cozy Carpet, last June expanded their repertoire into home furnishings. And they didn’t do it just to do it. They did it as part of their dream. Matt said it had been on their “bucket list” for a while.

Melissa added, “It was time to add something fresh, keep it exciting.”

To go downstairs at the carpet store into their showroom should be required strolling even if you have long furnished your home, because it will help you dream again. It’ll get you excited.

By choosing distinct furniture of exceptional workmanship, they targeted the upper modest market represented by Eagle River’s demographics. It’s for those who want something better than what the big stores in Anchorage offer.

Melissa for years has chosen colors, matched fabric, picked flooring, pored over swatches of carpet, helping her customers find the perfect flooring and cabinet to make their homes feel unique. This expansion into furnishings thus felt natural to her.

She decided to use her skill, her mature eye for value, and together with her husband Matt, they chose some of the highest quality furniture now available in Alaska. Additionally, they have on staff two certified designers who help them.

She told me, “All my suppliers are unique to Alaska.” She has an Amish line. She has Craftmaster made in North Carolina. She did her homework to find items not found in other retail stores and things that will last. And, of course, “are pretty.”

For Melissa, it is about customer service. The pieces on the floor are ready to take home. She doesn’t want to keep people waiting weeks or months for an order, once they see something they like.

Walking through the dining room sets, the living room sofas, the bedroom areas of their showroom, you’ll gaze not only at the furniture but the accessories. They have a huge array of vases and artwork, including gifts and jewelry. And, yes, sofa pillows.

From behind the counter desk at the store, Elaina Haupt offered me a bright smile, telling me she likes working at the store because “they are always getting new furniture. It’s dynamic and changing.”

When the Hickeys bought the building nine years ago, the downstairs had been configured much differently. They had to remove a lot of walls. They had to gut an apartment that was down there. At first, they used it for warehouse space. Their son used it for skateboarding.

The dream, however, percolated in them to revamp the space; so, they decided to free it up for retail and built a huge warehouse behind the store. You can’t see the warehouse from the street, yet the largest wood trusses ever made in Alaska were used in its construction.

Now what do you think happens when you give two interior specialists 4000 square feet of basement environment to revamp?

They painted and repainted the walls to create both a stunning avant garde texture and a hominess. Then they lit up one wall with a hugely framed, vibrant looking, Tina Turner and a painting of a Dalmatian with its spots blowing off; corrugated metal décor covers another part; while a tree-stump framed mirror with turquoise-inlay, still another. If the walls could be dancing, they would be so here.

You must walk through the first floor of Cozy Carpet to get to the middle staircase. You cannot see the handsome furniture except by going downstairs. You must take the plunge. You must see the “man-cave.” Seriously, there is a section called that, with an Alaskan cabin worthy couch.

You must see this greater than life place, a full-color catalogue where you can touch what’s for sale. You will end up agreeing with me that Cozy Interiors could be called the renaissance of furniture retail in Alaska. They are located at 17035 North Eagle River Loop Road.