By Breven Honda

For more than two decades, High Desert Design has been a fixture on Pioneer Boulevard in Mesquite, offering specialty furniture and interior design services to residents and visitors alike.

Next month, owners Jeff and Brenda Congdon will retire, bringing an end to a 22-year chapter of serving the community.

Over the years, the Congdons have built relationships not only with Mesquite residents but also with customers from across the country.

“My thought process was that we would be dealing with people from all over the country,” Brenda Congdon said. “We wanted to offer more style and more quality. We started with a 900-square-foot store, so it was very tiny. As we moved, we eventually grew to 14,000 square feet.”

As they prepare to close their doors, the Congdons have been touched by the outpouring of support from longtime customers.

“We have had nonstop previous customers come in to express sadness, but also to tell us how much they appreciated us and how much they’ll miss us,” Congdon said. “That has been such a positive thing, and it happens several times a day. We feel like we accomplished something here. Along with making great friends, we made beautiful spaces for people.

“I had a lady whose home we designed 12 years ago in Chicago come in to congratulate us,” she added. “It’s been a great experience because of the type of work we do. When we’re in people’s homes, we make great friends. We’re grateful for that and for all the support we’ve had from the community.”

More than a decade later, that Chicago customer has not changed a single thing in her home since purchasing furnishings from the Congdons.

That reflects the philosophy behind High Desert Design — offering pieces that are not only financial investments but also lasting additions to a home.

“We’ve had good feedback on all of the things we carry because they’re a little more unusual,” Congdon said. “I’m not into fads at all because I want people, if they’re going to invest money, to have something they can enjoy long term.”

During their years in business, the Congdons have shipped furniture and décor across the country, including to Chicago, Evanston, Wyoming, and Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City is where the couple got their start in interior design, working on residential and commercial projects before expanding to Mesquite.

“When I first came to Mesquite, I worked on some major projects here, so I was actively involved in interior design long before we opened the store,” Congdon said. “I just didn’t have a storefront. We decided we wanted to offer something a little different than what was normally available, and it worked well for us.”

Despite spending more than five decades in the design industry, Jeff and Brenda had never owned a retail storefront before opening High Desert Design.

Working together, however, proved to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the business.

“It’s been fabulous. We’re best friends,” Congdon said. “People always say, ‘You’re together 24/7,’ and we are, and it’s great. He handles all the freight that comes in and any problems we have with companies. He’s the problem solver. He also does the books and handles the business side of things as general manager. I handle the pretty part.”

As retirement approaches, Brenda Congdon said there are no major plans in place yet, although she expects more trips north on Interstate 15 to visit family in Utah.

“We have a large family, mostly in Salt Lake City, with lots of grandkids and great-grandkids,” Congdon said. “We really haven’t made any plans. We had a couple ask us the other night if we were sad about this, and I said that’s something I haven’t even thought about because we’ve had so many positive experiences.

“But we’ll make our plans when we get through this, and we’ll figure it out. That’s the kind of people we are. Right now, there’s nothing special we’re planning to do except spend time with family.”