Esquire Interiors

continued

His father started Esquire Cleaners in Ypsi in 1952, and his mother added the drapery and upholstery business later as a safety net: "Wash and wear came out, and mom and dad freaked." When Ted took over the business, he phased out the dry cleaning and four years ago moved from Depot Town to his current spot in Scio Township: "All my customers were here."

The furniture is all from Norwalk, "an interesting company," says Barron, stretched out restfully on one of Norwalk's couches, his feet on a coffee table. ("I've slept here a few times, actually. It's been pretty busy getting this furniture business up.")

Norwalk is "two hours away, all American made." The Ohio company went out of business in 2008, only to be resurrected by twelve former employees. "They cleaned it up, they 'rightsized it'--yeah, I just made up that expression. Pretty good, isn't it? And they made it work. Today they're debt free. Last Wednesday, the president of the company was up here unloading the trucks."