The Story So Far...

Virginia Sterling was officially founded by my father, John, and me in January 2007 – but the company’s furniture and woodworking roots reach back more than a century.

In 1906, my great grandfather, Roberto, moved his young family from Italy to Dennison, Ohio. Before coming to the US, Roberto was a skilled furniture and cabinetmaker but found work in his new home as a laborer with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Shortly after their arrival in Dennison, the railroad moved the family to Youngstown, Ohio where Roberto applied his woodworking skills in his off hours to making furniture, cabinets, and toys for his family and friends. As a boy, my father looked forward to his birthday each year when he and Grandpa would spend a windy March afternoon flying beautiful hand made wooden kites.

In 1938, my grandfather Jake and his brother Alfred took our family’s involvement in furniture beyond Roberto’s hobby when they opened Scarsella Furniture on the east side of Youngstown. My dad spent his childhood years in the store sweeping floors, unloading trucks, making deliveries and learning all aspects of the business from his father and uncle. The making and selling of furniture would lie at the heart of the Scarsella family from this moment on.

In January 2007, after years of working in both the retail and wholesale end of our industry, my dad and I founded Virginia Sterling on the belief that American made, high quality, solid wood furniture still had a place in today’s market. In the beginning, the company’s products were produced in partnership with a Virginia based manufacturing company – hence the name. In September 2008, we brought Virginia Sterling home to Ohio with the purchase of a great little factory amidst the rolling hills of east central Ohio.

The factory itself is simply brick, mortar, and machines, but the true heart of Virginia Sterling lies in the dedication and skill of the men and women inside. Each piece of furniture is looked after by the employees as if it were going into their own homes. Together, we are committed to exceptional style, quality, and integrity. We take great pride in knowing that our products will be part of your life for generations. I hope you find this site informative and useful and that we have the chance to add to the beauty of your home.