A Canadian Furniture Story That Lives On in Kitchener

My name is Matt Gray, and today I have the privilege of serving as President of Smitty’s Furniture. Our story actually began long before me, with my great-grandfather Ed Schmidt in Hanover, Ontario.

Back in the 1930s, Ed started by selling refinished pianos. After the war, he and his sons opened a small retail store in 1949. What started modestly as a general home furnishings and housewares store grew steadily as customers discovered the quality of the products and the care behind the service. By 1963, Smitty’s had expanded into a massive showroom in Hanover that featured full room furniture displays and attracted customers from across Ontario. During this period, Hanover became known as a furniture manufacturing hub in Ontario, and we’re proud to continue being part of that legacy.

In 1985 our family opened a second location in Cambridge to better serve the growing number of customers coming from Waterloo Region. That is really why we are still here today. In 2014 we moved that showroom to its current location in Kitchener, just off Sportsworld Drive near the 401. Today we continue to serve the region from that location, alongside our Hanover showroom and a new Barrie store that opened in 2024.

For more than 40 years in Waterloo Region, our focus has remained the same. We specialize in customizable, Canadian-made furniture, mattresses, and accessories. Many of the brands we carry are built right here in Canada, and we believe strongly in supporting the craftsmanship and jobs that come with that.

What matters most to me is the connection with customers. Furniture is not a small purchase. It is personal. It becomes part of daily life in your home. The most rewarding moment is when someone returns years later and tells us they are still enjoying the piece we helped them choose a decade ago.

If there is one thing I would share with the community, it is this: think about where things are made and how they are built. When something is crafted well, it becomes more than furniture. It becomes something you are proud to have in your home.

If you are exploring options, I would love to welcome you into our Kitchener showroom and show you what Canadian craftsmanship looks like up close.