American Leather Outlet

Cruising on Craigslist that helped me find this outlet. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this place before today! American Leather, based in Dallas, produces beautiful furniture which is sold at Cantoni and the formerly fabulous (now closed) Urban Home. In addition, AL manufactures private label pieces for Design within Reach, Room and Board, and Crate and Barrel. Rated as one of D Magazine's "Best of" picks back in 2004, the outlet store in Grand Prarie (map) features an inventory of overstocks, production samples, and customer returns. Quality varies from excellent (photo shoot or cancelled orders) to good. They occasionally place listings on Craigslist, and if you mention the site, you'll get an extra 10% off the purchase. Some selections today included a sage green Menlo Park four-piece sectional that retails for $11K for around $4K and a brown Hahn sofa that retails for $1600 at R&B for $999. Rick Lee's Odyssey recliner in dusty green leather was marked down to $650, a steal compared with the $1700 price online. Most pieces were in very good condition; I noticed only a few scuffs on the side of a cream microfiber sectional. Each item's price is marked down every month until sold. Colors and selection are limited, but the stock replenishes often, particularly around the time of furniture market shows. If you need a matching piece, one can be custom built for a price just over wholesale and takes about four weeks. Transporting your great finds is up to your own arrangement. The store is open Tuesdays through Saturdays.