By Mike Perry, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer

The Swanns are saying farewell to their 55-year-old family store, Jack Robbins Furniture.

Jack Robbins, affectionately remembered as “Bargain Jack” by his customers, first opened the business on Avenue C in 1952 and later moved to Broad Street.


“He gave away a live monkey,” Dale Swann, one of the present owners, recalled of his father-in-law’s first opening. “It came with the store, so he gave it away. The funny thing is, the woman who got it came back two weeks later and wanted to give it back.”

Beth Swann, Robbins’ daughter, and her husband say their decision to cease operations at the 110 Broad St. spot arrives at a time of increasing competition with major retailers and an offer they cannot refuse.

The couple said Friday they have a buyer for the building. “It definitely helped our decision-making,” Dale Swann said.

Local businessman John Massey, who owns The Diamond Store on Glenn Milner Boulevard, confirmed Friday that he is buying the building.

“I am going to move my jewelry store there,” he said. “I needed a bigger building. I like Broad Street. And that block still has some available parking.”

Massey said he plans to subdivide the 16,000-square-foot space to allow for an undisclosed retailer and another tenant that he “can’t reveal yet.”

But for the Swanns, the closure of their family store is bittersweet.

Beth Swann said she worked for her parents for more than 40 years. She recalled playing in the store as a child when it was located at 510 Broad St.

“Daddy sold tricycles. I can remember riding tricycles down the aisle,” she said.

“Bargain Jack” moved the family business five blocks down on Broad Street more than a decade later.

The Swanns took it over more than a decade ago, with her handling the bookkeeping and furniture buying and Dale Swann working the showroom sales.

The couple decided to retain the store’s name to honor her father.

“One of the special things about it was always being able to work with my family,” Beth Swann said. “We never considered that we had customers. We had friends who came here over the years.”

“It’s definitely an emotional move,” she added. “It’s been a lot of work. But it’s been a lot of fun.”