The Feinsteins opened the store in 1991, after Alan closed CarpetTown, his carpet and flooring store, and Nancy lost her job with Star Bank when the company was sold.
“We just always wanted to do this,” Nancy said.
They ran the store until 2003, then sold for the first time.
In 2005, they bought it back, then sold again in 2007.
In both instances, the owners of Bloomingdeals approached the Feinsteins to buy the business back.
When they were retired, the couple spent part of their time at a condominium in Delray Beach, Fla. When they were in Springfield, Nancy worked part-time at Oakwood Village as the dining room hostess four nights a week and volunteered at Kiwanis and St. John’s Center while Alan volunteered as a driver for the elderly.
“I kept pretty busy, but Alan didn’t really have many hobbies. ... When the second owner decided he wanted to retire, we found retirement a little boring and we missed the store so we bought it back and took it over July 1,” Nancy said.
She’s now 72 and Alan is 77.
Alan started his career in the building at 42 W. High St. around 1956, working for the carpet and flooring business located there at the time.
“I bought the building in 1972,” he said, “and CarpetTown was in one half with a variety store was in the other half.”
Now, Bloomingdeals occupies the street level floor and basement, about 10,000 square feet.
“There are four beautiful apartments upstairs with 16-foot skylights in the top floor. There is seldom if ever a vacancy,” Alan said.
Back to basics
The Feinsteins have always run the store using some basic retail principals: focus on customer service and satisfaction; stock clean, well-maintained items and ask fair prices.
There are no plans for significant changes now — Nancy and Alan are working to return the store to the way it’s always been during their tenure.
“It’s been so successful, we’re going back to business as usual since that seemed to satisfy everybody,” she said.
The store is stocked mostly with items from people who call the store with items to sell. Nancy is a stickler though, and goes to investigate pieces before she buys them.
“If their merchandise is clean and in good shape, we negotiate a price and I bring it back here. We do carry a few new pieces including bedding. We have accessories and pictures, and I can help with interior decorating problems,” she said.
The tradition of featuring a mannequin as part of the window displays will remain. Nancy said the current mannequin, whose name is Rose, is the third one they’ve had.
Alan named the first one Blossom Schwartz.
“One day, we were having a really slow week and some guy came in and wanted to buy her. I said, ‘I don’t think so,’ he whipped out a handful of bills, and the next thing I know, she’s out the door,” Nancy said.
When they retired the first time, one of their competitors bought the second mannequin. When they came back the second time, Nancy had to have another one.
“Once, she was in bed with rollers in her hair, with a box of crackers next to her and a cigarette in her mouth. We’ve done all kinds of crazy things with her,” Nancy said.
Irreverent mannequin activity aside, other downtown organizations are glad to see the Feinsteins return.
“I’m always happy to have a local entrepreneur as part of our downtown,” said Maureen Fagans, executive director of Center City Association.
Center City is a nonprofit “Main Street organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Springfield by promoting downtown businesses, preserving and improving downtown amenities and advocating for downtown development,” the group’s website says.
There are benefits to retaining local entrepreneurs in the downtown area beyond filling empty retail space.
Local business owners tend to be more interested in and committed to their properties, businesses and communities, Fagans said, which keeps dollars in the community, creates jobs and provides support for other businesses looking to locate or expand downtown.
“They (the Feinsteins) know the right things to do, and even though they may need to consider some changes to make things more current, they will be successful. They recognize what it tales to operate successful business and are enthusiastic about what they do,” she said.
When asked if they’ll ever actually retire, Nancy’s response was a reticent “maybe.”
“We might retire again someday if someone wants to buy it, but we’ve had so many wonderful, loyal customers. ... It’s just a neat store,” she said.
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