Herman's Furniture offers new showing to old theater

PERKINS TOWNSHIP — For a local interior design service and furniture store that's served generations of customers across the region, the move to a new, bigger location marks a huge step forward. And it turns out a vacant movie theater makes a perfect new setting.A grand staircase in the new storefront for Herman's Furniture provides an elegance of times past.More importantly, it stages displays in the main showroom so customers can see better than ever what the couches, chairs and tables would look like in their homes.The lighting and the new space are a perfect fit. "Wow. It takes your breath away," said Patty Cuthbertson, of Berlin Heights. "This is what Sandusky needs to feel alive and invigorated."Cuthbertson is a client of Herman's Furniture, using their decorative services to design rooms in her home. She stopped in Wednesday evening to see the new store.There is nothing here to remind anyone of the former Carmike Theater. The building sat vacant since 2011.Gone are the projection rooms that once dominated the second floor. The space now houses the Herman's Furniture offices and space for consultations on custom orders.The store leases the 27,500-square-foot building behind the Sandusky Mall, said Joe Dandurand, general manager of Herman's Furniture.The former Cleveland Road location was home to Herman's Furniture since 1950. Continued growth of the business necessitated the move.The new space has more room for improved displays and more elbow room for the staff, Dandurand said.Herman's Furniture carries a full line of quality furniture, including the newly added Thomasville Furniture line, as well as mattresses, accessories and window treatments.Classic or modern, fabric or leather. They can cater to any taste. Coastal beach decor is prevalent in some lines of furniture and accessories, including a lamp where the lampshade points the way to Put-In-Bay and to Marblehead.Employees at Herman's Furniture can help choose the right pieces to create the right look. The design services are free and they can work with any budget, Dandurand said.Setting up shop in the furniture and design store is Great Lakes Chart Company, which creates fine art nautical charts for wall décor.Great Lakes Chart Company were carried the last three years at the former location. Now they have their own location in the store.They are starting to craft aerial flight maps as well.Great Lakes Chart Company offers maps glazed onto the back of glass tile to create a unique floor mural nine times stronger than porcelain.Pricing varies depending on size, style and materials used. Call for quote.Herman's Furniture & Design4314 Milan Road, next to Cinemark Theatre behind the Sandusky Mall419-626-2512Great Lakes Chart CompanyFound within Herman's Furniture419-602-1504Joe and Becky Dandurand cut a ribbon with friends, family and local officials on Wednesday. The new Herman's Furniture location opened to a blessing and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The new location is at the former Carmike Cinemas near the Sandusky Mall.The new Herman's Furniture location opened to a blessing and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The new location is at the former Carmike Cinemas near the Sandusky Mall.A panoramic of the new Herman's Furniture in Perkins Township.The new Herman's Furniture location opened to a blessing and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The new location is at the former Carmike Cinemas near the Sandusky Mall.The new Herman's Furniture location opened to a blessing and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The new location is at the former Carmike Cinemas near the Sandusky Mall.Great Lakes Chart Company is a business within the new Herman's Furniture store and makes custom nautical maps. The new Herman's Furniture location opened to a blessing and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The new location is at the former Carmike Cinemas near the Sandusky Mall.The new Herman's Furniture location opened to a blessing and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The new location is at the former Carmike Cinemas near the Sandusky Mall.