Arnold Stove & Fireplace Center is an All Season, Specialty Business

 has been a family business in Arnold for 25 years. Now owned by a representative of the third generation of the Moss family, Ken Moss, the homegrown, local business continues to thrive even in a precarious economic climate.

”This is our fourth Arnold location. My grandfather began the business in the Fox Valley Center. We moved to this location in 2007, just as the economy began tumbling. We were worried, but soon it became apparent that people still wanted our products to enhance the comfort of their homes,” Moss said. “One difference was that if they might have previously considered purchasing a $4,000 unit, they were now interested in a $2,000 unit.”

There are few businessmen in Arnold as busy or as accessible as Moss. He works days as the co-owner and manager of the business. Moss also serves as an Arnold city councilman, serves on four municipal committees and is a member in the Arnold Chamber of Commerce.

After the April 5 elections results, Mayor Ron Counts appointed Moss to Arnold's Economic Development Committee, Finance/Budget Committee, Police Pension Review Board and as City Hall's representative at Arnold's Chamber of Commerce. 

His customers and constituents know that they can find him working at his business.

“I am very passionate about what I do. The quality of our work and making customers happy are my top priorities. I thoroughly enjoy my work, although some days I’m pulling my hair out,” Moss said. “Arnold has been a great place to build our business. This is a growing community, and we are growing along with it.”

“After serving in the Air Force for eight years, my plans did not include returning to Arnold and becoming part of the family business. My father convinced me to return. I did, and now I own it,” Moss said.

The business boasts one of the most attractive showrooms of its kind in the area. Tastefully arranged in pod-like settings, the displayed products are presented so that a customer can fully appreciate their function and beauty.

Each display area is appointed with with attractive wall hangings, furniture and tempting faux-foods and beverages—and  the focus product, which is a fireplace, wood- or gas-burning stove—to generate the feeling of having the unit in a home.

All of the fireplaces and hearths on display are functional. Even on a hot summer’s day in the air-conditioned showroom, they look cozy and inviting.

To complete the vision of ownership, a computerized system, Hearth by Design is available to show customers what their selections will look like in their homes.

Return customers are commonplace at Arnold Stove & Fireplace. Debbie Etter has purchased three Big Green Egg barbecue units and two wood-burning fireplaces there.

“We bought a Big Green Egg for ourselves and liked it so much that we purchased one for my son and one for my mom and dad. Then, we were building a custom house and wanted to use fireplaces to help heat our new home. The people at Arnold Stove & Fireplace helped us pick out wood-burning units that would fit our needs as to the living area of the house and the design,” Etter said. “We were very happy with every aspect of the purchase, delivery and installation.”

Moss is enthusiastic about the latest technology and the “green” changes in his industry.

“The new gas burners are much more efficient and cleaner than older models. The gasses, burned four times before they are emitted, create very little residual smoke,” Moss said. “We carry biomass fuels for wood-burning stoves, like wood pellets that are composed of recycled, pressed sawdust.”

The business also sells The Big Green Egg ceramic barbecue units. The business also as a few grills in the outdoor cooking showroom ready to be fired up and put to work cooking dinner for a prospective buyer. Racks of barbecue tools, accessories, spices and specialty wood chips surround the barbecue showroom and serve to remind shoppers of the variety of cooking options available to them.

The barbecue display area leads to an outdoor patio display area where customers can try the lavish outdoor furniture, enjoy the view of a wall of plants and listen to the babble of a large rock waterfall installed on the property.

In addition to selling high-quality barbecue equipment, such as Green Egg and Napoleon units, Moss also provides grilling classes in outdoor showroom space. Instructor and chef Tim Grandinetti of Dr. Brownstone’s Barbeque, conducts classes on a variety of popular grilling styles and recipes. So far, each class has been a sellout.

Brian Hartenstine and his wife Barb, both of St. Peters, bought the ceramic barbecue because he knew Moss and his staff each owned the product.

The 30-year businessman said he's heard all the sales pitches. He bought in Arnold because he could hear the sincerity, knowledge and enthusiasm Moss and his sales staff had for the products.

Rumor has it that Moss is planning some wine and cheese tasting events.

“Right now, the barbecue business is in full swing. This fall and winter the stove and hearth season will begin,” Moss said. “We are definitely a year-round business now.”