The End of an Era: Goldenberg's, an 'uptown' fixture in Somerset for over a century, will soon close its doors
PrintJul. 23--t's emotional ... very, very emotional for the entire family."
Steve Fischer, retired president of Goldenberg Furniture Store, was reflecting on a "Going out of Business" sale now under way at Goldenberg's, the oldest family operated retail business in Pulaski County. "We've had a long run, longer than most ... but businesses are cyclical," he reasoned.
Goldenberg Furniture Company at 103 West Mt. Vernon Street sprawls along two city blocks that face Fountain Square and the courthouse. It is a landmark in "Uptown Somerset," a coinage of Fischer when he headed a downtown merchants' group actively promoting revival of a declining retail business district. Fischer retired six years ago and Goldenberg's is currently managed by his son, Jeremy, now president of the company.
Within the next 60 days Goldenberg Furniture Store, after 105 years, will close its doors forever. It signals the end of the longest operating retail business in Pulaski County and one of few family operated busi-nesses in any community. Teddy Roosevelt was serving as the nation's 26th president when Abe Goldenberg and his two brothers began selling used furniture in Somerset.
A prepared statement released by Jeremy Fischer said the decision to close Goldenberg's downtown Somerset location is due to changing business conditions and prolonged economic downtown.
"This is the worst economy I've seen in my 40 years in the business," commented Steve Fischer. "The stock market is down ... the labor market and real estate are down ... everything is down," he noted. Fischer made the observation as he reflected and compared previous ups and downs in the economic climate during the past century.
"Goldenberg's survived World War I, the Great Depression and then World War II when you couldn't get any furniture for sale, as well as two major fires," Fischer related. A downtown blaze in the late 1960s destroyed most of a South Main Street block extending from Somerset Pharmacy to The Fair Store and inflicted smoke and heat damage on Goldenberg's. A fire in Goldenberg's warehouse about 10 years ago was even more devastating.
Steve Fischer laughed when asked if the story is true that his wife Jan's grandfather came to Somerset in 1904 with his worldly possessions in a bag acrost his shoulder.
"I don't know about that ... but Abe sure didn't have much money," said Fischer. "Abe was a salesman working out of Cincinnati and often came to Somerset ... and liked it here."
One thing his grandfather-in-law brought with him was a work ethic, Fischer said. "He bestowed a work ethic on the entire family ... that's how the store thrived and lasted 105 years."
Shortly after their arrival in Somerset, Abe Goldenberg's two brothers left to open new stores in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Abe stayed in Somerset and in 1908 married Pauline Lerner of Danville. The couple worked together to purchase the old wooden storefront building and in 1912 borrowed money to construct the existing brick and masonry building.
The Goldenberg family, from the start, was community-minded and patriotic.
"Pauline and (Somerset attorney) Ben Smith rode a handcar into coal mines at Stearns and sold war bonds," said Steve Fischer. She was founder and president of the Business and Professional Women's Club and was very active in the community for seven decades. Abe was president of Somerset Kiwanis Club and, like Pauline, was active in fund raising for both World War I and World War II.
Jack, son of Abe and Pauline, was the second generation of Goldenbergs to operate the furniture store and be an active member of the community. After graduating from the University of Kentucky and serving four years in the Armed Forces, obtaining the rank of major, Jack and his wife, Frankie, joined Goldenberg Furniture and focused on upgrading the business for the next generation.
A large, four-story warehouse and showroom building was constructed on an adjacent lot during the early 1950s. When First National Bank merged with Farmers National Bank a vacated bank building was joined to the Goldenberg Furniture complex, expanding the showroom to front on Fountain Square. Upgraded merchandise and decorative services became a priority.
Continuing the family's community involvement, Jack served as president of the then-Somerset Junior Chamber of Commerce, the then-Somerset Chamber of Commerce and president of the Somerset Rotary Club. He was leader of Scout Troop 79 and was awarded the Silver Beaver, highest award in scouting. Frankie worked with several charitable organizations and served many years as leader of Girl Scouts.
Steve Fischer, Jack and Frankie's son-in-law, joined the business during the late 1960s. His wife, Jan, who recently retired, came to the store during the mid 1970s after getting her master's degree at Missouri and Stephens colleges.
A wave of expansions followed during the next decade with stores opening in Cincinnati, Ohio and Radcliff and Corbin in Kentucky.
The family's community involvement continued with Steve serving with the Somerset-Pulaski County Jaycees. He was president of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, president of a downtown merchant's group, director of the industrial foundation and heart association. He was active in Boy Scouts, American Cancer Society, United Way of South Central Kentucky, director of the Kentucky Education Career Ladder, and founder and president of Somerset Academic Boosters Club. Both Steve and Jan taught part time at Somerset Community College. Jan was president of the Somerset Junior Women's Club and Lake Cumberland Performing Arts, and worked with many local charitable organizations.
Glen Goldenberg returned to Somerset and the furniture business after graduating from the University of Georgia. Glen served as president of the downtown merchants' association and was active in Boy Scout Troop 79. He currently manufactures and imports furniture nationally.
Jeremy, after graduating with a master's degree from Indiana University, returned to Somerset in 2002 and began managing the furniture business after his father's retirement. He is active in the American Cancer Society.
Steve Fischer bemoans the loss of family operated businesses in the community.
"Tibbals Drug Store, Prather Insurance and Salutsky's (Southern) Merchantile all came here about the same time as we did," Fischer noted. "The character, the faces of those who built this community are disappearing," he said.
"Obviously, for our family, it marks the end of an unusual 105-year commitment to our many dedicated employees and their families," said Steve Fischer. "It marks the end of generations of loyal customers who still come with receipts and stories about their grandparents buying furniture from Abe and Jack and passing that furniture on to the next generation.
"For the community, it marks the end of decades of commitment by the Goldenbergs and Fischers to make Somerset and Pulaski County a better place to live, work and rear families," he said.
Goldenberg's Somerset store currently has seven employees in addition to family members, Jeremy said. "Our employees are loyal; they are our family," said Steve Fischer. "They are completely trustworthy ... you can hand them your wallet and know it is safe."
"Goldenberg Furniture will fill all existing orders and remain open for the duration of the 'Going out of Business Sale,' working to sell all inventory, trucks, fixtures and property during that time," Jeremy said in a news release. "I'd rather sell the property than lease," added Steve Fischer.
Gib Gosser, executive director of Downtown Somerset Development Corporation, said a vacant Goldenberg building will create a "big void" in downtown Somerset.
"We will do everything we can to find (a new tenant) as quickly as possible," Gosser promised. "There's nobody alive today who can remember when Goldenberg's wasn't on that corner."
"It's so difficult to say good-bye," Steve Fischer remarked, a tinge of sadness in his voice.
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