Dukes chairs

The age old question of “what did you do on your summer vacation?”

I went to the Goodguys Rod and Custom 19th PPG Nationals in Columbus Ohio to help my dad at his very own booth for his company Duke’s Chairs LLC. Or let me appropriately title that dukeschairs.com

Sounds like an exciting vacation right? Well it was!! I swear it was awesome.
This was the first show for Dukeschairs so we had no idea what to expect. It was also the first Goodguys car show for Mikey and I so we really had no idea what to expect. And let me tell you, I can’t wait to go to another one!

The actual car show didn’t start until Friday but we had to be there on Thursday to set up the booth. My dad had a rent a van jam packed full and we had our vehicle jam packed full and we set off for Columbus. We made it there in good time and after just a wee bit of confusion, found our spot in the indoor display area. Nicely air conditioned thank goodness because it was 90 degrees all weekend with like 100% humidity. We weren’t sure how long it would take to set everything up and we were pleasantly surprised when we finished in no time.

We were staying at a hotel about 20 minutes away and our check in was at 3pm. However since we got set up so quickly we went to the hotel at noon and they had our rooms ready early. Score! So to celebrate our accomplishments for the day we had a “happy hour!” Black rum and coke that my dad magically pulled out of his suitcase!
Our hotel also had a “happy hour” every day from 4-7 with free cocktails and snacks. This is my kind of hotel let me tell you! Oh and an awesome free breakfast buffett. (It was an Embassy Suites in case you’re wondering).

Once the show started on Friday, my dad was pretty much glued to his booth. Mikey and I would check on him every so often. Bring him food, keep him company, and treat him to his afternoon cup of coffee and Baileys.

Mikey and I walked for miles and miles and took in everything there was to see.
Now I should mention that I am a car girl or should I say a hot rod girl through osmosis. Or better yet because I’m a Daddy’s girl. Hehe. Before my dad “Duke” started making automotive themed chairs custom made for you, he built cars. A 1980 Camaro, a 1933 Ford, and his super custom 1950 Mercury with a Cadillac engine and parts. So my dad was always working on cars my whole life and going to some car shows and such, so I just have always been around old cars and came to appreciate them myself.
So I actually very much enjoyed walking around the car show and looking at all of the amazing cars.
Here are a few of my favorites

On Saturday when Mikey and I caught up with my dad, he informed us that dukeschairs won an award!!!
So after the show closed at 5 they have an awards ceremony so of course we stayed to see my dad receive his award. So proud of him!


After the ceremony there was a big shindig at a different hotel down the road. It was kind of like an after party car show. They had a cookout, a band playing, and hundreds of cars. We ate some good food, had a few drinks, and walked around looking at more cars. My dad actually got to see a few cars this time since he was usually cooped up all day at his booth.

All in all, it was an awesome weekend! My dad winning that award was like icing on the cake because he also gets to be featured in the Goodguys magazine this November(it’s like free advertising). Go Duke!!


Aren’t his chairs just the coolest??!! He’s currently making a custom loveseat and coffee table for a customer that he talked to at the car show. Check out dukeschairs.com