Rowland’s Upholstery Plus ...
Doing beautiful, quality work since 1953, Rowland’s Upholstery Plus is one of Fernandina Beach’s great success stories.
Upholstering furniture is very important to the brother and sister team of Wallace Rowland and Arlene Rowland-Scott, owners of Rowland’s Upholstery Plus. They’re the third generation of Rowlands in the upholstery business. Their business serves both individual and commercial clients.
The folks at Rowland’s take pride in their finished products and in satisfying their customers. “We always want to provide the best personal service and the finest quality available at the most reasonable prices.”
Rowland’s custom builds upholstered furniture sometimes using only a customer’s picture or photograph or even just a description. Most often, that means sofas or chairs, but they also re-upholster everything from antique pieces to boat and airplane seats. One unusual item Arlene said she has seen was a chair made of bull horns that a customer brought in to have re-upholstered; another was a custom built, pew-like bench to be upholstered with beach towels. “We really do get some interesting custom requests, we do just about anything with fabrics that you can think of. We love to take antique pieces and refurbish them, that’s one of our specialties.”
Rowland’s fabricates custom valances, cornices, draperies, bed spreads, bed skirts and shower curtains. "We also sell fabrics, carpet, shades, shutters and blinds as well as binding area rugs, hence the Plus in our name." We are also proud to be the only HunterDouglas Showcase Priority Dealer in the area.
In 1953, two of their uncles, Earl and Willard Rowland, opened their own upholstery business in Fernandina Beach. Wallace and Arlene's grandfather, Henry Rowland, worked in the upholstery business, as did their father and many of their family members. Willard, who also was pastor of the United Pentecostal Church, and Earl, who also worked at Rayonier, sold the business several years later to Lewis and Doretha Rowland, Wallace and Arlene's parents. Dora Purvis, their aunt, recently retired from sewing at Rowland’s while their first cousin Todd Rowland (the head upholsterer), is there still along with other family members and the rest of the long term and loyal employees, making for a wonderful family atmosphere. Come on in and see us!