CityView Magazine

Homemakers Furniture Sacrifice is part and parcel of running your own business, but in 1945, S.O. and Lois Smith set aside plans to buy a home to open their own furniture store instead. More than 60 years later, the foundation they created for Homemakers Furniture continues through three generations; son Joel Smith is now store owner and daughter Kelly Smith is a furniture and design consultant. “We are the oldest family home furnishings store still operating in downtown Fayetteville,” Joel said. And when customers come in, they usually ask for a Smith by name. The Smiths even take their service on the road, providing interior design and decorating along with the furniture, carpet, rugs and wallpaper they sell. “They like coming in here and working with a family member because they know they’ll get good service,” Kelly said. “I love interacting with the customers, meeting new people, and going into people’s homes. That’s what makes it unique. Your home is a very sacred place where you feel safe and happy, and I like to bring that out. I like to bring out what’s special to them.” Tiny Town Marilyn Fleishman knew the idea of a children’s store in Fayetteville was unheard of in the 1950s. “There were no toy stores around here Above | Joel Smith and Kelly Smith are father and daughter and the second and third generations of Smiths to run Homemakers Furniture. business quickly became known for its honesty and welcoming atmosphere. Greg Wright remembers Saturday afternoons when men would visit the shop to “jaw jack” with his grandfather or how his father, Bill Wright, interacted with customers and created long-lasting friendships. “I learned so much from both of them,” Wright said. As a third generation owner of Rite-Way Safe and Lock Inc., Wright continues to carry out his grandfather’s dream by combining tradition with modern technology. “When people get locked out, we’re the people they look to let them in,” he said. This has led to more than one humorous house call. Many times, Wright will receive panicked messages from clients locked in their own bathrooms, door knob in hand. And who else would you turn to if your cat had a pair of handcuffs snapped around its neck? A customer once came in with that very problem, presenting Wright with the difficult task of unlocking the handcuffs and soothing a distressed kitty. Now, he is mentoring the fourth generation of Wright men to run Rite- Way, his own son, Cory Wright. The memories of his grandfather and father serve as his guide. “I think they would be as proud of what we have done with the business as much as I am of them starting it.” at that time,” Marilyn recalls. “People didn’t know what toy stores were. They only sold toys at Christmastime.” But friends continued to persuade the Fleishmans. The family already saw demand from their wholesale toy business, and Marilyn and Herbert Fleishman became confident that a children’s store could succeed. And before long, the business known as Tiny Town quickly outgrew its Sycamore Square location. With no money to purchase land for a larger store, Herbert bought property on Fort Bragg Road with a handshake. “It was the American story, and the way of getting it was done by a handshake,” Marilyn explained. Now, 58 years after the store first opened, the Fleishmans say Tiny Town is the largest family-owned children’s CityViewNC.com | 39

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