By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
August 5, 2008
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| Don and Elizabeth Sweeney are closing the Sweeney Furniture store this Friday, concluding 83 years of continuous business in Carrollton. |
Carrollton’s oldest retail business is closing this Friday, Aug. 8.
Sweeney & Son Furniture store at 95 N. Lisbon St., which was founded in Carrollton in 1925, is closing its doors after 83 years in continuous business.
“This has been a difficult, but necessary decision,” say the owners, Donald and Elizabeth Sweeney. “With the current economic times, changing customer buying trends and suppliers’ business conditions, all were factored into this decision to close,” the Sweeneys said.
In reminiscing about the changes in the furniture business over the years, Don and Elizabeth said the majority of goods is coming from “off shore” companies and the quality control is not the same. Also, the small business person (Mom and Pop stores) is feeling the squeeze of conglomerates or “big box stores”, they pointed out.
When asked what they plan to continue doing, Don and Elizabeth said they will continue to be associated with the Sweeney-Dodds Funeral Home and spend more time with family in Columbus and Texas.
“We plan to continue to support local events and the community as we always have,” they added.
Commenting on the closing of the store and moving on, Don and Elizabeth said “this was one of the hardest decisions we ever made. We thought about the decision - both negative and positive - for a long time.
“Since all I’ve ever done is work, this is like major surgery, removing a big chunk of my life. It will be a big adjustment in my life, but times change and we have to change with them,” Don remarked.
The Sweeneys pointed out the store’s closing has no effect on the business or personnel of the Sweeney-Dodds Funeral Home.
“It is time to move on. We wish to thank all our employees and customers for their support and loyalty over the years. For without you, this 83 year success story would not have been possible,” Don and Elizabeth added.
The business was founded in Carrollton in 1925 by William Sweeney and his three sons, Hugh, James and Paul, who purchased the former Butler store in what is now the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce office building at 61 N. Lisbon St. where they sold furniture and general merchandise.
“Our current building at 95 N. Lisbon St. was built in 1935. Throughout the years the store went from general merchandise, selling coal, cook and heating stoves, laundry equipment, appliances, small household appliances, paint, toys, blinds, wallpaper and rugs, into a full service furniture store,” Don said.
A fire in 1985 destroyed the Frank Niemiec Shoe Repair and Rex Henry’s and Tom Spiker’s Locker Room Sports (formerly Ferrell’s Grocery) located on the north side of the present store.
Subsequently, the Sweeneys constructed a furniture and carpet gallery with 15 gallery rooms and the business became a full service home decorating center.
Hugh Sweeney (Donald’s father) ran the store from 1933 to 1965 when Don took over the operation of the business and was joined by his wife, Elizabeth, in 1977.
From an early age, Don spent most of his time helping in the store, trimming wallpaper and cleaning. By 1960 he was selling, delivering merchandise and installing carpet and linoleum.
Following are the employees, beginning around 1950, who helped make Sweeney’s Furniture store a success.
Ed Laizure, Neva Glazure, Donald Sell, Florence Wilson, Bernice Gotschall, Dick McLaughlin, Bob Dunlap, Lorin Miller, Bill Grim, Bill Rutledge, Emma Mae Scott, Lynn Poplin, Emma Noble, Donald Warner, Rusty Shortland, Janice Dunlap, Dorothy Strawder, Larry Jenkins, Dale Morckel, Todd Rutledge, Tom Konst, Marilyn and Margaret Yoder, Mark Finnicum, Dale Batty, Skip Turkovich, Dwight Buehler, Bill Douds, Linda Roush, Dolly Moore, Linda Howell, Michelle Thompson, Valerie and Manuel Fernandez, Dick and Amber Hemming, Jim Moore, John “Buck” Morgan, Mike Moreland, Eileen Rutledge, Christine Johnson, Lisa Smiley, Linda Starkey and Bill Salmen.
The building, which is for sale, contains approximately 15,000 square feet of space and is listed with Cutler Commercial Investment Group of Canton. |
