COATESVILLE – The city’s oldest retail business is closing, just as plans for a redevelopment are being born.
Chertok’s Furniture and Mattress, a fourth-generation family-owned business, first opened in downtown Coatesville on East Lincoln Highway in 1902.
Larry Chertok, 65, said he is retiring.
A sunny life awaits him in Florida with his wife Terian Chertok, who is a retired teacher.
At 156 East Lincoln Highway, across from 2nd Avenue North, the bright red, brick-and-mortar furniture store sits inside a multi-story, 30,000-square-foot building. Chertok said the property is under contract with a buyer.
The greatest experience in this business for Chertok, he said, was felt by generations: “people”.
After taking over the family business from his father in the mid-1980s, he has had thousands of customers over the past four decades.
“It’s all about the people. Your relationship with people — nice people,” Chertok said.
He added, he said, that the experience of working at Chertok’s Furniture and Mattress was about “great people, clients and employees and a lot of fun.”
Chertok said the store’s merchandise was on sale. Discounts now range between 60% and 90% off regular price points.
During the ongoing “everything must go” sale at Chertok’s Furniture & Mattress, people can shop for chairs, recliners, beds, sofas, sectionals and home accents, plus office desks and artwork.
He expects the store to remain open until February.
At one point he had 20 people working for him in the store, at a time when Chertok’s Furniture also sold appliances.
“Like many members of the community, my first apartment was furnished by Chertok’s,” said Linda Lavender-Norris, Coatesville City Council President.
“Everyone who lives in the city has probably had the pleasure of visiting this family-owned business that has been such an important part of our business community for generations,” Lavender-Norris said.
“For decades, the Chertok family has been an example, providing years of service to our community, and now serves as a stellar model for new entrepreneurs emerging in our community,” said the council president.
“I express my gratitude and wish the Chertok family and dedicated staff continued happiness and success,” Lavender-Norris said.
Many locals have worked at Chertok’s Furniture over the past 12 decades.
“I worked for Chertok’s when I was in high school. Larry was in college, and his father and grandfather were there. I remember the whole family being community driven,” said Coatesville City Councilman Ed Simpson.
“Bill Chertok has been a member of the City Council for many years,” the councilman said. “He and his wife (Joanne) were very involved in the town.”
Four generations
As for the city of Coatesville, Chertok said good things are happening from a revitalized Amtrak station to the construction of a new sports center, as well as a new restaurant near the store and record business, also in the old newspaper building.
“I’ve been fortunate to know many generations during my time here,” Chertok said.
Clara Kauffman, his grandmother, was part of the family’s furniture business in West Chester, which closed in the 1980s.
“Two families of furniture have come together and married,” he said. She married Sam in the 1920s.
Larry Chertok’s great-grandfather, Meyer Chertok, founded the company in 1902. The family fled religious percussionists to Russia at the turn of the century — just like in the movie Fiddler on the Roof.
“It was for religious independence,” he said, “in the 1880s.”
The family arrived at Ellis Island and moved from Brooklyn to Wilmington and then to Landenberg. From there they moved to Coatesville.
“They decide to open their own business,” he said, “rather than being a trader.”
“Unfortunately, some members of my family died in the Holocaust,” he said.
Then his grandfather, Sam Chertok, took over, followed by his father, Bill Chertok.
“121 years of Chertok family ownership is closing,” he said.
The business principle is “see, touch and feel” which online shopping cannot replace.
“People want convenience,” Chertok said.
