Some businesses begin with a dream—Anchor Stitch Upholstery began with a legacy.
Robin grew up surrounded by the hum of sewing machines and the rhythm of tack hammers in her grandmother Carol’s shop, Thompson Upholstery. From the time she was just six months old, she napped in a car seat next to an industrial sewing machine as her grandmother worked. As a child, Robin swore she wouldn’t follow in the family business—just like her mom, Cindy, once did. But upholstery has a way of calling people back home.
When Robin was eleven years old, Grandma Carol lost her courageous battle with kidney cancer. Cindy continued the tradition, working tirelessly at another local family-owned upholstery shop, Tepe Furniture, keeping the family’s skills and values alive. Robin forged her own path, earning two degrees in Applied Science in Design Technology and working as a draftsman, but eventually returned to help her mom sell fabrics at Tepe Furniture. “I told them I’d be there temporarily,” Robin recalls, “but it felt like coming home.”
Ten years later, when Steven Tepe announced his retirement and the closure of Tepe Furniture, Robin felt called to take a leap of faith. With her mom’s guidance and the support of the talented staff, she purchased the equipment—including her grandmother Carol’s cherished Juki sewing machine—and launched Anchor Stitch Upholstery.
Three generations strong, Anchor Stitch Upholstery has been built on the same values Grandma Carol believed in: quality above all else and a belief that “no job is too small.” Robin and her team take pride in every project, knowing that reupholstering quality furniture not only preserves craftsmanship but also the memories that come with each piece.
Greenhouse Fabrics is proud to have been part of Robin’s journey. “Our Greenhouse reps are phenomenal,” Robin says. “They’re always there when we need them, and they care about relationships, not just sales. That’s rare these days.” One of her favorite Greenhouse fabrics is F5689 Coastal, which holds sentimental meaning: “It was the last material my Grandma Carol used to upholster the main sofa at our family lake house. Over two decades later, it’s still holding up—and the fact that it’s still available today makes it even more meaningful.”
From Grandma Carol’s shop to the thriving business Robin runs today, Anchor Stitch Upholstery is a story about family, community, and preserving quality craftsmanship for generations to come. Greenhouse Fabrics is honored to be part of that story.
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