FIRST came some Amish families, and now Amish-made furniture has arrived in Manitoba.

A northwestern Ontario company that sells Amish-made, solid-wood furniture is expanding into Manitoba with the opening of two franchise outlets.

Dave Rempel, centre, with his daughters Cassandra Rempel, left, and Jessica Rempel in their new store, Strictly-Amish-Furniture. (Joe Bryksa / Winnipeg Free Press )

The first Strictly-Amish-Furniture outlet -- a 4,000 square-foot store in the Cavalier Square shopping centre at 1600 Regent Ave. W. -- opens today. Another 1,700-square-foot store is to open next month in Steinbach.

The stores will sell a wide range of wooden furniture products that Strictly-Amish owner and founder David Rempel buys from about 50 Amish family-owned factories in Indiana and Ohio. The products include chairs, tables, entertainment units, china cabinets, and bedroom and office furniture. More...