Though the pieces sold at Modern Arizona are, factually speaking, secondhand, this Midtown Phoenix shop is not your standard used-furniture store. Every item – from chrome-and-leather chairs to ceramic figurines – is meticulously selected by owner Matt Wszalek. And they represent the best of mid-century design, which for Wszalek means 1950s-’70s furniture and décor that’s less time-capsule, more timeless. “Like a ’57 Chevy or the Mona Lisa, these stand the test of time.”
The Milwaukee transplant moved to the Valley in the 1990s to work for a furniture appraisal and consignment company, visiting 10 houses a day on the hunt for white-whale furnishings before joining IKEA for a 15-year stint as a visual merchandising manager. These experiences honed Wszalek’s talent for spotting pieces both rare and approachable. So, when he opened Modern Arizona in 2023 in its original location on 15th Avenue, the store was a hit with mid-mod collectors and regular folk seeking design-friendly furniture.
Today, in its new 5,000-square-foot location on Seventh Street south of Bethany Home Road, Modern Arizona is a symphony of sights (curvilinear couches, glossy teak desks, shapely chandeliers) and sounds (Wszalek’s penchant for cueing up Keith Jarrett’s 1975 The Köln Concert) – a happy paradise for shoppers and browsers alike. Though Wszalek still actively sources products – he won’t say where; “it’s a trade secret,” he laughs – the store’s success has also helped grow inventory. “In the early days, I was always fishing,” he says. “Now people call me.”
– Jessica Dunham
![Glass Vase “[The glass vases] are some of our more popular items,” Wszalek says. From $60](https://www.phoenixmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/PHM1226CU18-scaled.jpg "Glass Vase “[The glass vases] are some of our more popular items,” Wszalek says. From $60")
Modern Arizona
5740 N. Seventh St., Phoenix | 602-888-1577 | modernarizonaphx.com
Fashion
How the West Was Worn
As a fashion trend, cowboy core is ruling the nation’s collective closets and social media feeds – and could be argued that its origins are rooted right here in the Valley. Phoenix native Nick Wetta founded the Americana apparel brand West Major here in 2017 out of a desire to create an authentic Western-style shirt that was “understated and timeless, with thoughtful fabrics and a fit that felt right for everyday wear,” he says. The shirts are made in the U.S., come with a lifetime guarantee and have been sported by celebs like Post Malone. Shop locally at Cave + Post or online at westmajor.com.
– Bella Keenan
