From music to furniture; Ruddick's endures

Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo The Ruddick's, Inc., family today includes, seated, from left, owners Cindy and Terry Davenport, Josh Davenport and his son, Connor. Standing, from left, Kathy McWilliams and Monica Cowen. The family-owned business, which is celebrating 75 years in business, employs about eight to 10 people.

Not every local business survives for three quarters of a century.

Ruddick's, Inc., a local furniture store located at 117 S. National Ave., has done just that and is celebrating 75 years of business in Fort Scott this year.

Store owner Terry Davenport said the business first operated as a music store in the early 1920s and was located at the corner of Wall and Main streets. The building where the current furniture store is located was built in the early 1940s.

"There are not many (businesses) that old still around," Terry said. "They've either sold or gone out of business."

Former owner Alvin Ruddick said in a Tribune article published in 2000 that the store began in 1918 as Music by Martin, a spring-off from Martin Music of Springfield, Mo.

In February 2000, the Ruddick family sold the stock of Ruddick's Incorporated to Terry and Cindy Davenport, and Al Ruddick retired.

Today, the family-owned business employs about eight to 10 people, including the Davenport's son, Josh Davenport, who said he serves as a "jack of all trades" at the store, much like the business' other employees who help with sales and deliveries. Josh said he also takes care of website development for the store.

"Everybody wears a lot of hats," Josh said.

Business remains solid through his years working at the store, although there are "ups and downs," Josh said.

"It's a struggle every day, but we're doing OK," he said.

Since its beginnings as a music store in the early 1920s, the longtime family-owned business has seen its share of changes over the decades.

In 1922, Homer A. Ellis owned Ellis Music and Furniture in Nevada and Butler, Mo., as well as a store in Fort Scott. Ellis was the founding father of the still-flourishing Ellis Furniture in Nevada. The Ellis family business has remained, to this day, a family enterprise.

Ruddick's father, also named Alvin, was married to Homer Ellis' sister, Lily. The elder Ruddicks, Alvin and Lilly, had moved to Florida to make their fortune in real estate. Ruddick said that never happened. What did happen is the elder Ruddick's brother-in-law, Homer A. Ellis, was overloaded with the three music stores so he made a long-distance call to Florida to ask the elder Ruddick to move back home and run the Fort Scott store, the previous Tribune story said.

In 1930, the elder Ruddick began working for Ellis in the Fort Scott store and bought it in 1939, when Homer A. Ellis died.

Ruddick's took on the furniture line during World War II. Ruddick's, as well as Ellis Music in Nevada, would eventually become known as music and furniture stores during the war and by the late 1940s, Ruddick's had moved strictly to furniture, the story said.

"It (eventually) evolved into furniture and floor coverings," Terry Davenport said.

He, along with his wife, Cindy, took over ownership of the store in February 2000.

"During the war, people were doing everything to stay in business," Cindy said.

Al Ruddick joined the family store in 1954 and it incorporated in 1959. His father slowly weaned himself out of the store and the younger Ruddick took over in the early 1960s, the previous Tribune story said.

Terry Davenport said he has been working at the store since 1971. At 18 years of age, Terry got his start at the business by delivering furniture and served as Ruddick's protege through a distributive education program offered by Fort Scott Community College.

"I never thought I'd still be here in 2014," Terry said.

"It's the first and only job he's ever had," Josh said. "And it's not a job. It's fun. I enjoy coming to work everyday."

Josh, who will likely take over the family business from his dad one day, said his father worked his way up in the company and became the store manager about 20-25 years ago.

"I've been here for about 12 years," Josh said. "My dad asked me to come help run the store. I said, 'Sure.' It's about figuring out your spot in life."

Josh said his wife work in the store part-time during the summers. Their 8-year-old son, Connor, also helps out in the store and helps his dad with local radio spots.

Various aspects of the business have changed over the years, two of those being upgrades in technology and change in attire for employees.

"Salespeople used to wear suits and ties. My dad said he's never wearing a tie again," Josh said with a laugh. "We all wear polos. I think business has relaxed over the years. I think if you're too overdressed, people get kind of intimidated. It makes for a more relaxing atmosphere."

Other changes include the advent of computers and constant upgrades in technology, including the Internet and the growing use in recent years of social media, Terry said.

The store has also expanded from a store about 5,000 to 10,000-square feet in size to one about 20,000-square feet, Terry said.

"We'll continue to grow," he said. "We do commercial work, schools, churches, as well as residential."

Terry said the business' 75th anniversary will involve a year-long celebration that will culminate next summer with a birthday party and lunch that will be open to the community.