| Show January 26 Supplement to The Richfield RcaperTteaper Extra 19fM more new and used cars The lighting system allows inspection of vehicles at night and is a welcome addition to downtown Richfield Completed laot fall at a cost of nearly $100000 (he new automobile display lot at Newby Auto provides for the display of many Newby Auto Center’s Expanded Display Area Major Improvment major expansion and improvement project at Nets by Auto Center 275 North Main Richfield has A not onlx pnnided the auto dealership x ith a much needed addition but has enhanced downtown Richfield The entire car and truck display lot just north of the main building underwent a nearly $100000 improve- ment including complete resurfacing and expansion west to include two additional city lots addition an old shed and other unsightly areas were removed to allow for the lot to expand to the west In Nine new light poles placed throughout the lot provide bright illumination to show off the company's vast selection of oxer (K) new and used cars 1 proxements Newby paid for installation of new curb gutter and sidexvalk along the north side of the lot at 300 North Main the first time such a project had ever been done there "Nexxby is committed to southern Utah and our expansion and improvements prove that xve're here to stay for many more years" said Robin Henrie general manager The company also installed a $50000 computer system on which the entire operation from sales and service to billing is done all to improve customer serx ice Newby Auto which xvas Whiting Motor from 1948 until purchased by the St auto firm empeople and is one of ploys the major auto dealerships in the region The company is George-base- d 18 dealer Pontiac for Oldsmobile Buick and Cadillac cars and GMC trucks "We have one of the largest selections of vehicles of all kinds in southern Utah" Henrie said The company was organized with Ted Whiting and Ken Jacobsen now both deceased formed the company from a dealership of Chrysler products in Elsinore For many years Whiting Motor sold Oldsmobile and GMC trucks and later added Pontiac Buick and Cadillac Robin Henrie is a son of Usher Henrie who with Russell Kunzler and Bill Kunzler became partners In 1992 their interests were purchased by Newby and Usher I lenrie recently retired after 28 years with the firm Bill Kunzler continues as parts manager Christensen's Begins Its 65th Year Christensen Department Store had a humble beginning It was in February 1929 just a few months before the national crisis (also called the Great Depression) that two brothers and a sister rented a small building 19 feet wide and 30 feet deep at 169 North Main and w ith very limited capital opened the first Christensen’s store That building has since been demolished Another brother joined the organization after completing an LDS mission In three jears the building known as the Young Block at Main and Center was rented and the store was moved there giving it more needed space In those depression years declining prices made it difficult to operate at a profit Almost every time a new' shipment of merchandise arrived the prices would be lower which made it necessary to remark existing merchandise to a lower price Competition was there then just as it is today But with long hours intelligent buying and rapid turnover the business expanded In 1934 the only building on the west side of Main Street to First North was the post office and a uly bandstand After overcoming numerous obstacles a building was constructed which has been the home of Christensen’s the past 60 vears The Great Depression still prevailed so that to obtain finances with which to build was a severe problem Local bankers were extremely cautious and were unwill- ing to help finance this new building In retailing during this period wholesalers were used quite extensively in mov ing goods from manufacturer to the retailer A large midwestem wholesaler operating as Rice-Sti- x in St Louis Mo agreed to supply $5000 to be repaid at the rate of one hundred dollars a month plus interest By using native lumber and local GIcnwood bricks and paying local carpenters at the going rate of four or five dollars a day this loan helped very materially to complete the building It is interesting to note that during the Depression wheat was priced at twenty-fiv- e cents per bushel and cattle at five-ccnper pound and sometimes neither could be sold because people did not have the cash with which to buy A man’s work shoe could be obtained for two or three dollars a ts pair of overalls for eighty-nin- e cents a quality chambray work cents a ladies shirt for forty-nin- e house dress for one or two dollars and a yard of percale for fifteen cents Over the years a number of Alten Christensen center is flanked by two sons Alan left and David who are managers of the Richfield Christensen's Christensen family member have been brought up working in the store Here David left and Alan swept the floors when they were eight and six years of age respectively They now the Richfield store t stores were started in smaller Utah communities A wholesale unit was also established which helped busin 19X2 ing in larger quantities the sons of the original principals chose to operate the stores on a family line basis so that a division was made and the second gencrauon is continuing to successfully supply the needs of many localities in Utah The sons of Alien Christensen — Clark David and Alan are owners of the stores in Richfield St George Cedar City and Delta In 1940 Richfield City owned almost 100 feet of Main Street property immediately to the north of the then existing Christensen's store In front are third Christensen generation Robbie left ard Scott Family has owned the business since 1929 store The city wanted to sell this property to help pay for the installation of water meters Christensen's was the successful bidder and buildings were constructed for JC Penney Co Sprouse Reitz and Eltcnc’s Gift Shop These Lms have cither moved or terminated their business Increased sales over the years has warranted the use of additional selling space as these firms vacated their buildx ings In April 1986 when closed plans materialized to use the space they vacated At the present there arc 25000 square feet of space to better serve the trading area Better displas Pcn-ncy'- h improved lighting greater selection ample service and adequate selling space arc goals which have been realized by the present owners They affirm that Richfield is still the hub of an excellent trading area and they intend to continue to give the people of this area quality merchandise at saving prices with courteous service They express gratitude and appreciation to the people of southern and central Utah for their many years of patronage Although the owners of Christensen's have been business oriented they have given untold hours in church and community service as have their wives Management af firms that the success of Christensen's has partially evolved because of the excellent cooperation and superior advertising of The Richfield Reaper As part of their goal to provide better selections and updated fashions in the past five years Christensen' has added such lines as Guess Girbuad Lucky Pcpe Z Cav av icci Liz CLnrboumc Chaps Cambridge and South Coast Plaza These arc in addition to the mother other lines such as Levi’s Dockers Wrangler Nike and Ree-bo- k that have been cornerstones of Christensen’s business for many years t |
