Building History with the Chambers Family

Bud Chambers and his late wife, Sylvia Chambers, were both fourth generation Canton business owners and fifth generation Cherokee County residents. Today their daughter, Carla Chambers Roach, can be found running the family business.

In 1974, the couple opened Western Auto in Downtown Canton. By 1983, the store expanded to become what is now Chamberhouse, selling home furnishings, gifts, and bridal registries—all passions of the late Sylvia Chambers.

Over the years, Canton has changed dramatically. Large department stores caused Chamberhouse to adjust their inventory, moving away from furniture sales and antiques.“

At that time, Canton was not hustling and bustling like it is now. You could walk out on the street, look both ways, and not see anybody on the sidewalk,” Bud recalls. The historic downtown has altered through the years, but families like the Chambers continue to be ingrained in the fabric of the city. Today, Chamberhouse continues to provide boutique finds and popular brands to Canton residents.

Each building in Downtown Canton holds a deep history of people who created their livelihoods in the city, and Chamberhouse is no exception. As early as 1919, Coggin’s mule barn and livery stable occupied the building at 145 West Main Street. Remodeled in 1927, the building became home to the Main Street Garage, which sold Hudson and Essex automobiles. The 1930s brought a Chevrolet dealership to the space until a 1955 fire devastated most of the downtown area. The dealership rebuilt and in the 1970s, a sewing plant owned by Jones Mercantile took over.

In 1988, Bud and Sylvia Chambers expanded Chamberhouse into the historic location. Since that time, Chamberhouse has been a local go-to for gifts, home décor, jewelry, and fun finds.

Bud and Sylvia retired in 2016, leaving the store in the caring hands of their children. Their daughter Carla Roach is now the proud operator of Chamberhouse. Carla says, “I’m proud to carry on the business started by my parents and to be a part of Canton’s Historic Downtown.

We now have multiple generations of families that have shopped at Chamberhouse. In addition to these old friends and familiar faces, I also love welcoming new people to our wonderful city, and I’m excited to see our downtown continue to grow and prosper.”

When you stop in to Chamberhouse, you are met with a friendly smile and a cheery “Hello!” just as Sylvia Chambers would have greeted. Downtown Canton has much to offer by way of history and destination shopping and Chamberhouse should be your first stop.

This was featured in the Historic Canton magazine. Read more.