Longtime business
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Originally published 01:22 p.m., February 15, 2008
Updated 01:22 p.m., February 15, 2008
Cottonwood Falls
It’s a place “where buyers are adored.”
Cottonwood Falls’ oldest continuously running business is still in operation and continues to grow in the items it offers its customers.
Croy’s was originally opened in 1895 by Robert L. Holmes. At that time, the store was called R. L. Holmes New Furniture Store. Since then, the store at 314 Broadwayhas had a long history. David Croy, current owner and operator of Croy’s, provided a detailed history of the store. Holmes ran the furniture and undertaking business until 1914 when he sold it to Ernest McKenzie. L.E. Croy bought the business from McKenzie in January of 1947. L.E. Croy Furniture & Undertaking was born. The business has stayed in L.E. and Naomi Croy’s family ever since. It has come full circle with David Croy, their son, running the business still today. Both L.E. and Naomi Croy are deceased. David Croy has been with the business since September 1966.
Croy said the store has added a lot of inventory and services through the years.
“We go with the flow and go with what’s popular,” Croy said, as he stood in his store earlier this month.
The appliance business was added along the way. Croy said he services all the appliances he sells. However, Croy is getting out of the appliance business, as it’s become harder and harder for him to compete with big box retailers over the years.
Croy said when his father bought into the business the family got into the floor covering business.
“I don’t think there’s a house that we didn’t lay a floor in,” Croy said.
The funeral business has been a big part of Croy’s as well.
“The funeral business is a whole different type of business,” Croy said. “It’s something I like to do. You got to be cut out to do a business like that.”
The store today is filled with a large inventory. In one corner sits paint and supplies. In another corner is a hunting section. There also is furniture, home decor items and nearly everything else somebody could want. There is a garden center and a place to make keys.
Recently, The Melting Pot, another Cottonwood Falls business, moved in on the upper floor of Croy’s. The Melting Pot offers a lot of gift type items.
Croy’s also is a dealer for White Metal Detectors. Croy said he offers up to seven models.
Croy said the business is still running strong and he plans on running it as long as he can. Pieces of the store’s history are scattered throughout, including paintings by Croy’s mother. The paintings are hung throughout the store and are available for purchase. Naomi Croy had a regular presence in the store until she was 99. Naomi Croy’s art work won many awards at fairs, David Croy said.
“She would come up here and sit in front of the window and watch what was going on up and down the street,” David Croy said. “She was a gifted artist.”
Mollie, Naomi Croy’s dog, still comes to the store each day. On a recent morning, Mollie, who is 10, basked in sunlight spilling through the storefront window.
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