A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Ed Beutner
- By: Claire Kenney
- Last Updated: April 22, 2026
Captain Ed’s Furniture in Michigan City has been a family-run and family-owned company for decades. Ed Beutner’s parents originally named it Quality TV because it sold televisions only.
“The company was started by my parents,” Beutner said. “Since then, the company has changed locations, names, and inventory.”
When Beutner was born, Quality TV was just about a year old. In fact, on the way home from the hospital with Beutner, his parents stopped at the store so that his mother could write out a business check.
“They put me on a television box just days old,” said Beutner. “We always joked that, since birth, I have been tied to the business!”
Beutner’s dad was a captain and Beutner later became one. This connection to water would be important when Beutner renamed the business Captain Ed’s furniture.
When televisions were no longer regularly manufactured in the United States, their prices dropped dramatically in the 1980s.
“We had to differentiate the inventory,” Beutner explained. “When this happened, I was the store owner and made the decision to incorporate other types of home products like couches, toasters, beds, and more in order to survive this change.”
After 22 years, Beutner sought a new space for the store. He needed something larger. His passion for the water and his very young kids’ love for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” led him to rename the store Captain Ed’s Furniture.
“I created fun, interactive reading competitions for students at the local schools,” Beutner said. “This gave them access to books sponsored by us, and they could come in for pirate-themed treats and candy.”
Beutner also sponsors the cardboard boat race. He is very involved in the local community in several ways, including being a part of “Save the Catwalk” to save the local boardwalk, along with being a member of the Port Authority Board.
Furthermore, Captain Ed’s was one of the first to sell products of Ashley’s Furniture, one of the biggest furniture stores in the nation.
Beutner’s wife and children are very much a part of the business. Beutner and his wife have been married for 45 years and met when they were just 20 years old. Their children are 31 and 29 years old.
“My children love being a part of it, but as they grow they are beginning to pursue other career opportunities,” Beutner said.
As the Beutners continues to give to the community and provide them with top-of-the-line furniture, multiple generations will benefit from this three generation business that has withstood setbacks presented by the industry and continues to thrive in its now third location.
After 65 years, the Beautner family will be stepping away from Captain Ed’s as Beutner retires. Make sure to swing by before the store closes to show your support for the Beutners!