Zion Furniture and Upholstery
“I’ve spent my whole life in the business, one way or another —since I was a little kid running around on the cutting tables,” Joe Starks, the current owner of Zion Furniture and Upholstery, shares. Originally founded in 1937 by Barney Barnhill, the shop has seen several owners and moved locations before settling in its current spot in the early 1980s. "Barney ran it until he was too old," and then his son took it over. John Harper purchased the shop next. When he became ill, his daughter took over, and then Joe's uncle bought Zion's in 2002, but not before asking Joe if he wanted Zion's.
Joe, who grew up in the upholstery industry, recalls helping in his uncle’s shop as a child and later working for various furniture manufacturers in Utah. “It’s something I’ve always come back to,” but at that moment, he was not ready to make Zion his own. He felt it was important to hone his skills in product and research development. In 2015, he made the leap and officially took ownership. "I have not looked back since."
Zion Upholstery specializes in restoring both commercial and residential pieces, with Joe emphasizing the pleasure it brings him when working on sentimental items - like a grandmother’s sofa - where he can see the happiness it brings to families. “I love bringing old pieces back to life. It’s a dying art, but when I see the impact it has on people, it’s worth every bit of effort.”
Joe’s passion extends beyond just upholstery; his commitment to quality is evident in the team he works with, including longtime associates like Boris. A gentleman in his eighties and an experienced woodworker, Boris fixes damaged pieces and has ties to the shop’s earliest days, as does Dave, and Ed, who knew the original owner. The shop’s front window, adorned with a charming “baby Eames chair,” attracts passersby, some of whom have walked by for years without knowing the treasures inside. “People see that little chair and finally walk in, curious about what we do here.” Joe said that he struggles to find people to come here and work. He is eager for others to learn this trade, as he fears that it may go by the wayside at some point.
Joe's belief in this old-world craft is a marvelous tribute to the longevity of this business and his passion for upholstery. He and his team are "here to make people happy,” Joe says. “It’s not just about making a living; it’s about bringing joy and value to people’s lives through our work.”
