About Us
The
Loomis Barn was established in 1963 by Allen and Mary Loomis on the premise
of selling high quality furniture at fair prices. (This continues to
be the mission of the business even now.) They started with a few
lines of hardwood case pieces and 8-way, hand-tied upholstery and found
customers were happy to drive out into the beautiful hills of Yates County
for their furniture.
The original showroom was a barn which had been moved to the Loomis farm
in 1939 when Allen and Mary were married and began farming his grandfather’s
land. The original hand-hewn pots can still be seen in the present building.
By 1972 more showroom space was needed and the first addition was built
in spite of the floods that hit the Finger Lakes that summer.
The business continued to grow, more lines were added, and after college
and a stint in the Peace Corps in Africa, son Jim joined the Loomis barn
in 1976. After her daughter had started school, Ginny joined her brother
and parents in the business.
The
family doubled the floor space and changed the entrance of the store in
1989 when they added more furniture and gifts and accessories. An open
house celebrating the new changes (and the Loomis's 50th wedding anniversary)
was held that August.
Wishing
to make the Loomis Barn a more complete destination, a
café was opened in 1997. The space below the café created
room for another store, and
Colonial Bouquets became part of the Loomis Barn and Country Shops.
The most recent addition is the Sugar House where maple syrup production (long a family hobby) can be experienced by interested visitors.
The third generation of Loomises has been involved in the family business as delivery and stock boys as well as servers and dishwashers. Perhaps some day one of the grandchildren will continue the fine tradition their grandparents started and nurtured over 40 years ago.
For directions to the Loomis Barn and Country Shops, click here.