Sellman's

SELLMAN FURNITURE AND BEDDING

Serving the Community since 1932.

Sellman Furniture originated in Piqua, Ohio in 1932 as a Maytag appliance store. Reuben Sellman had been a district manager for the Maytag Company for 10 years. During this time, Maytag relocated Reuben and his young family 6 times. His wife Grace had enough of the relocating, and urged Reuben to go into business for himself.

Thus, the Sellman Maytag Appliance store was born in Piqua, Ohio. In 1938, a group of Covington business men approached Reuben about moving to downtown Covington to fill a vacant building at 23 N. High Street. They offered him the property at significantly below market value and he moved. An early tax incentive, if you will. So Sellman’s in beautiful downtown Covington held a Grand Opening Sale May 14, 1938, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Sellman’s has always been a family run business. George Sellman, Rueben and Grace’s son took over running the store in the late 1940’s after his graduation from high school and marriage to Evelyn Wehneman. George’s two sisters, Marjorie and Marilyn, also worked in the store. Over the years, their husbands Bob Paff and Jack Snider also joined in the business.

In the early 1950’s George added wall to wall carpeting, a relatively new concept during the building boom after World War II, to Sellman’s offerings. It was hugely successful and set the stage for bigger and better times to come. During the 1950’s, George was a member of the Mohawk Carpet Company’s dealer council. He had major input on carpet fashion colors as well as new styles.

Through the years, our location expanded with the growing business. We expanded west through the entire block, added the old Miller building on High Street that had been the Covington pool hall for years and took over the Cove Theatre building to house the latest trend, an Early American Shoppe.

In the late 1970’s, Bob Sellman, George’s son, won the Cincinnati Enquirer’s contest to predict when Pete Rose would hit his record breaking 3,000th hit. Bob, an avid sports fan, predicted the date, the game, the inning, the time of day, and as a tie breaker, the score of the game to win this contest. As a result of Bob’s acquaintance and friendship with Pete Rose, Pete came to Covington to sign autographs for his many local fans. It was an exciting day in Sellmanville!!!

In 2003, Sellman’s took on an extensive remodeling project to open a Broyhill Showcase Gallery. This major project once again renewed and reestablished Sellman’s as the greater Dayton and north western Miami Valley area’s leading home furnishings retailer. Sellman’s have always carried quality brands at affordable prices and continue to offer a wide assortment of the latest styles. Today, Jane Sellman, George’s daughter, manages the store. She continues the tradition of offering fine furniture for every taste and budget. It still pays to trade in Covington!!!