Smulekoff’s: There’s more to it than letter to city hall says

Smulekoff”s isn't looking to close if the city acquires its building  for flood protection, the company said Friday.

The home furnishings business issued a statement Friday, Feb. 11, clarifying reports earlier in the week that followed the release of a letter it sent ot the city.  The letter requested a buyout of the company's property next to the Cedar River at 97 Third Ave. SE, which would be affected by the construction of a flood wall proposed by the city.

The company said relocating for civic benefit is nothing new for the company. It previously sold its property and moved so that City Hall could be built on May's Island, and later sold property used as its warehouse for the downtown public library.

“The letter sent to the city by Smulekoff's was a procedural communication required by the businesses to be impacted by the flood wall,” the company said in the statement.

The statement said Smulekoff's was a leader in recovering after the flood, and is not looking for a bail-out or closing.

“If the city moves forward with building the flood wall, Smulekoff's would be willing to sell the property to the city to protect the vital downtown area,” the statement said.

The flood wall ”would potentially cause irreparable damage to Smulekoff's building for use as a furniture store,” the statement said. “Therefore, if the city proceeds with the flood wall Smulekoff's wants the city to buy their property.”

Smulekoff's indicated it is committed to the downtown location, and has continued to improve its first floor showroom space, adding an Ekroness Stressland gallery, expanding its La-Z-Boy Conmfort Studio and now remodeling its Lane and Broyhill furniture gallery.

Theresa Blair, communications manager for Smulekoff's, said the 122-year-old business expects to be in its current location for a long time.

“Should we have to move again, then we'll move, continue to improve and grow,” Blair said.