Biz Buzz: Ferrell’s clothing store in downtown I.F. moving to new location
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Do you want to know what’s happening on the east Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered.
Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
BIZ BUZZ
IDAHO FALLS
Local clothing store relocating after 68 years at current location
IDAHO FALLS – Ferrell’s has been open for business at 417 W. Broadway in Idaho Falls for 68 years. But soon that will all be changing.
The company recently announced it’s under new ownership, and in a Facebook live video last Wednesday, Dana Wright, the new co-owner announced it would be moving to the corner of Sunnyside and 25th East next to Kiwi Loco in the old David’s Bridal building.
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“We’re excited, but we’re a little bit sad to leave the old Ferrell’s building,” Wright said in the video.
Dana and Teneal Wright purchased the business from Brent Tueller, Teneal’s father, in June. Teneal and her six older siblings grew up working with their dad in the store. Teneal tells EastIdahoNews.com the thought of moving to a new location is bittersweet.
“I’m grateful we could buy the business from my dad so that he can retire, but it’s still a little sad. All the memories (of this location) will always be close to our hearts.”
Through the years, Ferrell’s has become a staple for many young men preparing to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While it currently offers men’s dress suits exclusively, it used to be a full department store offering men’s and women’s clothing. Dave Anderson opened the business in 1950 at its current location in what was then the old JCPenney store. Prior to 1950, Ferrell’s was located several blocks east where Destinations Inn currently sits. Tueller purchased Ferrell’s from Dave Anderson in the 1980s.
“The building has been for sale since I started working here in 2004. We just never expected it to sell very fast,” says Dana Wright. “Some developers downtown bought this building several weeks ago and they’ll be restoring it.”
“Knowing they’re not going to just demolish it and tear it down — that makes me feel better,” Teneal says. “Now we can always drive by and say ‘That’s where Ferrell’s was.’ I know they’re going to make the building beautiful and it’ll be a good thing.”
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to the new developer, Jace Howell, to find out what’s going in the new building. We did not receive a response, but Dana says they will open at the new location in February.
“It’s a little bit smaller, but I think it’s better because there is so much space (in our current location), sometimes it’s hard to make the store look full of merchandise,” Dana says. “There’s not a lot we’ll have to change (at the new location) because it was already clothing based.”
Many people remember shopping for women’s clothing on the mezzanine level of Ferrell’s, or boy scout clothing in the basement. These levels have been vacant storage areas for many years, but it’s a place where the Wright’s kids grew up playing.
“My kids know this building inside and out. They know every nook and cranny,” Dana says. “We are going to miss this (place).”
There’s also a tubing system that begins at the top floor and extends to the main floor that Teneal’s dad built to make cash exchanges to the customer more efficient. The infrastructure is still intact, but not for long.
“It’s going to be hard to leave,” Teneal says with emotion. “I’m going to have to come in and take a lot of pictures because it’s a really cool building.”
This month marks the 68th anniversary of Ferrell’s at the current location, and for the Wright’s, it conjures up warm memories of an annual family tradition.
“Every year, (Teneal’s) dad would have a family Christmas decorating party. We’d have pizza and there’d be 60 people decorating the whole store. It was a fun family tradition. Those are the things I’m going to miss,” says Dana.
“We looked forward to coming down here every year to get together. We’d decorate and play Christmas music. Santa Claus would even show up. That is something that will be dear to my heart for the rest of my life,” Teneal says.
The store’s 68th anniversary sale is currently underway offering a full suit package for men and boys. The Christmas sale kicks off in December, followed by a moving sale in January. The address for the new location is 3194 S. 25th E. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
“I’m grateful people have been so positive about (the move). That’s the one thing I was a little bit nervous about. Anytime you relocate, it makes you wonder if people will still come and shop with you, but for the most part, people have been excited about it,” Dana says.
“We’ve become friends with our customers … and they’ve even offered to help us move, so it’s been a good, positive thing,” says Teneal. “We’re excited for the new adventure ahead of us.”
BIZ BITS
5 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
CHUBBUCK – The City of Chubbuck Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce its first annual Christmas in the Park at Cotant Park. You’re invited to light up the park Friday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. There will be Hot Coco, cookies, and candy canes. Music will also be Provided by Highland High School.
IDAHO FALLS – The annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in downtown Idaho Falls is happening Saturday, Nov. 24 in Civitan Plaza. Beginning at 3 p.m., County Line will be performing live with complimentary hot cocoa courtesy of the Bank of Idaho. A tree honoring the brave men and women from Idaho that have served or are serving in the military will be decked out in red, white and blue at 5 p.m. You’ll be entertained with a color guard presentation, the singing of the national anthem, and then Christmas carols. Enjoy the horse-drawn trolley rides beginning three hours prior to the event (and every Saturday leading up to Christmas from 1 – 3 p.m.) and don’t forget to say hi to Santa.
AMMON – The Annual Winter Light Parade and Gazebo Lighting in Ammon is an event you will not want to miss. The parade starts on the corner of Eagle and Sunnyside Saturday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. The route goes up Sunnyside, left onto Ammon Road and turns left on 17th and then left on Midway to McCowin Park, where you can see the gazebo lights and Santa will be waiting to meet you.
RIGBY – Idaho Falls just wrapped up Festival of Trees this year, but the city of Rigby is hosting their own beginning next week. It’s happening Tuesday, Nov. 27, through Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Rigby City Library. If you’d like to enter a decorated tree or wreath in the festival or provide raffle items, props or services, contact the library at (208) 745-8231.
REXBURG – Come celebrate Christmas at Hemming Village in Rexburg Dec. 1. There will be a full schedule of activities all afternoon beginning at 1 p.m., including live entertainment and Nativity. Enjoy free hay rides and ice sculpting, or take photos with The Grinch, Elf on the Shelf or Santa Claus. And if that isn’t enough, there will also be refreshments.
BIZ BUGS
BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING
The following is a news release from the Better Business Bureau.
The day after Thanksgiving was originally dubbed “Black Friday” as a negative due to traffic, crowds and hostile behavior. It’s now a positive for many people who get excited for the lines, the crowds, and especially the deals. Now it’s the single busiest shopping day of the year. American consumers plan to spend an average $935.58 during the holiday shopping season this year, according to National Retail Federation’s survey conducted by Prosper Insights.
Retailers are gearing up for the big day, especially the “big box” stores that sell name brand appliances, housewares, electronics, and other popular gift items. Newspapers are stuffed with sale flyers, commercials are promoting the “door buster” deals, and online ads promise the best bargains.
The Better Business Bureau offers these tips to make your Black Friday shopping experience productive…and maybe even enjoyable:
Learn about advertising tricks and gimmicks. The new BBB #AdTruth campaign highlights bad ads and helps you learn to identify the most common schemes and cons. Check it out at bbb.org/adtruth.
Do your research. Read product reviews, check out bbb.org for Business Reviews, look at the sales flyers and ads, compare prices, look for early promotions and “flash sales.” For tips on searching online, check out the new BBB Digital IQ project at bbb.org/digitalIQ.
Read the fine print. Some stores only honor sale ads during a certain time frame, or on certain days. Some stores may only allow you to purchase one item, particularly large, popular and/or deeply discounted products.
Know the advertiser. Some of the best deals are only available online, but be careful. It’s easy for a fake site to mimic a famous retailer’s website, so make sure you are shopping with a legitimate site. Check out bbb.org to read more about stores or websites unfamiliar to you.
Sign-up for email alerts. Many stores release their best Black Friday deals to people who have signed up to receive their emails. Just make sure it’s the real business and not a scammer.
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