A new business is coming to the old location of the Lodge with plans to restore the building to its original style.

Longtime friends Chandler Smith and Natali Jones are creating a high-end home furniture and decor business that will emphasize products made in the United States. They said it will be called Smith + Jones.

“We’re trying to bring the American manufacturing back that lasts,” Smith said. “We want to do heirloom quality that, you know, will grow to be a beautiful antique one day.”

Smith and Jones said the location at 726 Main St. will primarily be their design office and showroom space. They will not sell furniture in the office. Instead, it will be used to have meetings with clients, contractors and other designers. Their furniture will be sold through an online catalog, and it will be made by manufacturers across the country.

“It was a really interesting opportunity to get a space that we thought would really lend itself to be a really cool, creative space that would help kind of, you know, embody what we want the brand to be,” Smith said.

The loft on the second floor of the building will be used as a showroom space and lodging for clients who might come into town.

Anyone who has walked down Main Street has probably noticed that the front of the building is boarded up. Smith and Jones are attempting to restore the building to its original storefront, like bringing in more natural light through bigger windows. They said they are using experienced tradespeople who have done historical work before.

“Obviously, due to a number of factors, will we be able to directly recreate that? Probably not,” Smith said. “But our goal is to come in with something that is more – that at least is a callback to that original storefront that they had.”

Jones said it has been cool to learn about the history of the building, which she and Smith called timeless. The building was built in 1891, according to the historical markers database. 

“The masons who built this, there’s a thought process behind everything,” Jones said. “How we can restore things to, you know, keep that integrity.”

Smith said this history is important, and it also reflects the goals they have as a company to create lasting well-made furniture.

“When you’re in a space like that, and you understand there’s a lot of history before, and hopefully a lot of history that happens after you, there’s a humbling effect there that can be really special,” Smith said. “And again, we’re trying to do that with our pieces.”

Smith said he and his wife have lived on the outskirts of the city for almost 10 years. Both he and Jones are Kansas State University graduates, where Smith got his degree in interior design. They decided to start their company a year ago, when they realized they were both pursuing similar design goals.

“I’ve constantly been looking for the right person to help me out,” Smith said. “Had some conversations about a year ago, maybe a little less, and realized that she was kind of independently pursuing some stuff that overlapped with what we’re trying to do with this brand.”

Jones said she likes all the different and creative ways you can make something look.

“I really enjoy the design aspect of it,” Jones said. “Picking out what you think looks best and what your client thinks looks the best.”

Beyond the building renovations, Smith said they are also working to launch a website within six months. He and Jones did not want to give a timeline on when the building will be done, but did say they are currently in the rebuilding phase. The demolition has already been completed.

“Because of the nature of our business, we have to pay so much attention to detail, because that literally is going to be the most presenting aspect,” Smith said.

Smith said he cannot wait until the building is done, though.

“It’ll be kind of a surreal moment,” Smith said. “You work on something for that long, and you do the drawings and you know how many iterations it went through to get it just how you want it. And then to see that done is super cool.”

Smith said that once they get settled in, they want to look for ways to connect with the Eudora community. He said he feels fortunate the opportunity came up to own the building.

“We view this as home, like, we couldn’t be more excited to be where we are and get to be involved in the community,” Smith said. “I think this is a really cool, special place, and everyone’s been super welcoming and excited.”

Reach reporter Bella Waters at [email protected].