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Kris Venhaus, Co-Owner, Amish Home Decor
Q: What brought you to Prescott and how long have you been here?
A: Both my husband and I have loved the Prescott area for many years. Prior to meeting, we each, independent of one another, spent time in the area. We loved the common beliefs of faith, family and freedom. When we met, we began to vacation here and said, “One day we’ll retire in Prescott.”
That “one day” became “in five to 10 years”, then “two to five years” and then, we were selling our house in California and looking for a home here. That was in 2019 and we have never looked back!
Q: How did you become interested in your
career field?
A: I never anticipated being the owner of an Amish furniture store. The only retail experience I had was at a small dress shop in high school, and I knew NOTHING about furniture, let alone Amish furniture.
In 2020, we decided to build a home. We were looking for a dining table of a specific size and style. A friend mentioned the Amish furniture store and having no idea what that meant, we decided to stop by. A few years later, we heard the owners were closing down, and since I was looking for a part-time job, my husband recommended we consider buying it.
Q: What is the biggest reward of your job?
A: Most definitely the people I have met and the connections we have made with the community. In early 2024, we decided to start a nonprofit, Heartland Ranch, a ranch for kids that have been trafficked and abused. Having purchased the store 2½ years earlier has allowed us to create credibility and a reputation. As word of our nonprofit grows, more people come to the store because of our desire to serve these victims and now 100% of our profits go to support the Ranch.
Q: Where is your favorite place to vacation; why?
A: Switzerland. I was a huge fan of The Sound of Music growing up and had always dreamed of going there. When my daughter graduated from college in 2019, we made plans to go in May 2020. That trip was canceled due to COVID. We were finally able to reschedule it and traveled there in June of 2024. The beauty of that area is hard to put into words. If I could go back to Switzerland, that is where I would go.
