Millhurst Design Center

How did Millhurst Design Center (MDC) come to life? Millhurst Mills, Inc. is a family-owned and operated full-service home improvement center established in 1925 by Bernard Hochberg, situated lakeside on 15 acres in Manalapan, New Jersey. Originally purchased as a grist mill for wheat, grain, and flour, Millhurst Mills was the local social gathering place for farmers to have a drink, talk about pricing and activities as they weighed and sold their grain, or purchased animal feed. In the 1930s Millhurst Mills expanded into a substantial lumberyard, and by the early 1960s, it was an innovative full-blown “Home Improvement Center.” In 1973, Millhurst Mills became one of the first Ace Hardware dealers in the area. Hochberg’s three sons—Sam, Art, and Ben—ran the business during this time.

Sam Hochberg’s son, Bernard ‘Nardie’ Hochberg took over operations in 1985 and developed the wholesale and import side of the company with a heavy concentration on salvage material and auctions. He also expanded the retail lumber operation to include Benjamin Moore paint, decking, mouldings, vanities, and kitchen cabinets. Millhurst Mills has historically been known as one of NJ’s best-kept secrets by contractors and bargain hunters alike looking for stock or closeout cabinets, tile, and building materials. After hurricane Sandy in 2012, the stock kitchen business at Millhurst Mills exploded with contractor and homeowner emergency rebuilds. Nardie asked his daughter, Karen Hochberg Barnes, a custom cabinetry designer then living in Scarsdale, New York to help out.

As Millhurst Mills began to offer field-measuring appointments and design services, Barnes felt that they should be providing an alternative “shopping” experience – a comfortable and more upscale kitchen and bath showroom environment for the expanded clientele now requiring design services that complements the already existing building materials business. Millhurst Design Center is the realization of this concept. In 2017, Millhurst Design Center opened as a dazzling interactive showroom connected to the retail operations at street level. It includes custom and semi-custom cabinetry made in the USA, higher-end tiles, and kitchen and bath accessories. Millhurst Trading Warehouse continues to sell stock cabinets to contractors and homeowners who do not need design services. Millhurst Mills has returned to its roots as a social gathering place for neighbors and customers by hosting seminars, demonstrations, networking events, BBQs, and contractor-appreciation days. 

OUR GOAL

The goal of our designers is to provide creative and functional personalized design services for kitchens, baths, and living spaces perfect for every lifestyle and price range. Catering to homeowners, contractors, interior designers, and architects, we specialize in full project coordination from conception to completion. We are also happy to assist with partial projects such as a kitchen backsplash, bath vanities, cabinet hardware refresh, custom bars, laundry rooms, and much more!

THE SHOWROOM

Visit our state-of-the-art, 5,000 square foot retail showroom featuring a variety of kitchen and bath vignettes, cabinetry sample and conference room, plus a large tile display room. Schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our talented designers and let us make your renovation an effortless and satisfying experience.