Davenport furrier hits the century mark

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:45 PM CST | () comments

Jim Rhomberg displays some of the coats at Rhomberg’s Fur and Leather Gallery in Davenport. Rhomberg’s is celebrating a century in business and of family ownership. (Larry Fisher/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Jim Rhomberg doesn’t mind that fur manufacturers find him to be a bit particular.

“I’ve actually had vendors say ‘you’re very fussy about your quality.’ I say ‘thank you — and if I’m not, remind me,’ ” said Rhomberg, the fourth generation to lead Rhomberg’s Fur and Leather Gallery.

Rhomberg, who holds the title of company president, said it is that attention to detail and demand for top quality that has the Dubuque, Iowa-based retailer still serving customers 100 years after his great-grandfather, Frank Rhomberg, first opened the doors.

In 1907, Frank Rhomberg, an immigrant from Austria, founded the Dubuque Tanning and Robe Co. The company has had a presence in Davenport since 1937, when it opened a store downtown.

Today, Rhomberg’s maintains its downtown Dubuque headquartersstore and its Rhomberg’s Fur and Leather Gallery at 4642 N. Brady St. in Davenport.

Best known for its selection of designer fur coats — from minks to beaver, fox, and raccoon — the company also has evolved into a retailer of leather coats, cashmeres, shearlings, crystal-trimmed denim jackets and other styles. The company also is involved in the cold storage business — storing its customer’s fine furs, as well as the design business.

Rhomberg’s actually tanned skins in the early days and manufactured its own furs, but today the focus has shifted to retail. Jim Rhomberg said members of each generation have left their own mark — responding to changes in the marketplace.

“Each generation has looked at the business through their own eyes and determined what opportunities were there,” said the 48-year-old Rhomberg, who took the reins from his father, Roger, whose own father, Karl, carried the torch during the second generation.

Jim Rhomberg, the only one of seven siblings to join the family business, worked alongside his father from 1981 until Roger Rhomberg’s death in 2000. “You realize you’re not just running a business, you’re representing the family,” he said.

“We have had the capacity to make garments from scratch from Day 1,” he said, adding that the company now works with about 75 key vendors around the world. However, the Dubuque plant still is heavily involved in alterations, restyling and updating coats, and even turning furs into other items — even teddy bears.

Rhomberg, who travels regularly to the Davenport store to meet with Quad-City customers, recalls having to convince his father to expand into the leather business. “My father said to me ‘it takes a lot of leather jackets to make (the same) as one mink sale.’ But the leather jacket customer of today may be the mink coat customer of tomorrow,’’ Jim Rhomberg said.

Like the generations before, Rhomberg said he and his staff still know the importance of customer service. “I’m meeting directly with customers all the time so we can find the happy ending I know we can create.”

While some coats might get picked off the rack, he said more are specially designed for the individual customer. “If we can put a design on paper it can be done. We promise a coat will fit like a glove.”

One of the struggles is broadening the customer base although customers — like the company — have been from multiple generations. “One of the big dilemmas we face is people’s notions that they have to have thousands of dollars to walk in the door here,” he said. Today, the stores offer some more affordable fashions, including reversible rain coats, unique clothing and a wide range of accessories such as belts, purses and other winter wear.

Charlotte McManus, the manager of the Davenport store, said the store thrives on repeat business. “The last three months have been very good,” she said.

McManus, who has worked for Rhomberg’s since its downtown location, said the move to Brady Street in 2001 has proved successful. “For our older clients, it’s better for them because there are no parking issues.”

A cold, snowy winter hasn’t hurt business either, Rhomberg said. “I don’t cheer for dump trucks of snow, but if it’s cold we do more business.”

Rhomberg’s still operates out of its 1870s building in downtown Dubuque, where it has storage vaults, and operates a factory that restyles, cleans and repairs coats. “There isn’t much we can’t do,” he said.

“But we’re the ultimate cyclical business,” he said, adding that people have the misconception they take half the year off. The selling season is traditionally October through March.

But in the summer, the staff is busy buying — thinking of particular customers as they view the newest styles. “We know where fashion is. Each new season brings an incredible arena of choice. It’s exciting for us,” Rhomberg said.

He and his wife of 23 years, Nancy, have three children, Kate, Nick and Michael, who range in age from 16 to 21. They may or may not decide to make Rhomberg’s a fifth generation.

“They’re in the bullpen. I don’t know what they want to do. If one of them wants to be in the family business, I’d be ecstatic,” he said. “I want them to do what they’d be happiest at in life.”

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.

Rhomberg’s history

1880s: Frank Rhomberg leaves Austria to establish Rhomberg Brothers Bottling Co. in Dubuque, Iowa.

1907: Frank Rhomberg established a new fur business, the Dubuque Tanning and Robe Co.

1917: The Dubuque Tanning and Robe Co. moves to 1000 White St., where it remains today.

1919: Karl Rhomberg, Frank’s son, enters the family business.

1929: Rhomberg’s adds Rockford, Ill., store.

1937: A third Rhomberg’s store opens in downtown Davenport.

1940s: For the next two decades, Rhomberg’s brings furs and fur services to 150 franchised stores in nine Midwest states with the assistance of full-time territory salesmen.

1949: Roger Rhomberg, Karl’s son, enters the business.

1953: Rhomberg’s Davenport store purchases Richter Furs, established in 1868, and renames the store Richter-Rhomberg’s.

1981: Jim Rhomberg, Roger’s son, enters the now four-generation family business. The popularity of furs soars in the 1980s as top fashion designers feature new fur collections.

2000: Roger Rhomberg dies.

2001: The Davenport store moves to 4642 N. Brady St.

2007-08: Rhomberg’s celebrates 100 years in business.