The champagne flowed at Kluger Furs on Saturday at a special ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the furrier’s expansion, a move that doubled its space in Flossmoor Commons.
The celebration drew longtime customers, Flossmoor village officials and friends who raised a glass of bubbly with owners Larry and Sue Kluger.
members and customers watch as Larry and Sue
Kluger cut the ribbon marking the expansion of their
space in Flossmoor Commons. (Photos by Homewood
Area Chamber)
The champagne flowed at Kluger Furs on Saturday at a special ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the furrier’s expansion, a move that doubled its space in Flossmoor Commons.
The celebration drew longtime customers, Flossmoor village officials and friends who raised a glass of bubbly with owners Larry and Sue Kluger.
drinks during the celebration
of Kluger Furs’ expansion.
“This is a great day for Flossmoor because we’re celebrating an iconic business,” said Mayor Paul Braun.
“This is much more than just an expansion. The Klugers have been in business for more than 55 years, and it’s a testament to the owners, and to Larry’s mother, Ruth Kluger, who started it.”
Braun also said the Klugers have been outstanding community members and strong supporters of numerous local nonprofit organizations.
“You are wonderful community partners,” the mayor said.
Committed to staying at their location at 3303 Vollmer Road in Flossmoor Commons, the Klugers added 2,400 square feet last summer. The major construction project required crews to take down walls to connect their store with the space next door, previously used as an office suite.
More space means more fabulous coats, customers said. Esthel Allen of Matteson, who has purchased a number of them over the years, said she loved the wide range of styles she found there.
Allen recalled the first purchase she made at Kluger Furs, a sheared beaver coat dyed in six shades.
“It was beautiful. And after I bought it, I saw it on a television commercial the Klugers were running,” she said.
“It really was an outstanding coat.”
She spoke with fondness of the service she has received from Larry Kluger and his staff.
“Larry goes all out to make sure you’re pleased,” she said.
The sentiment was echoed by Lucius Earles of Olympia Fields who, with his wife, Sarah, has purchased several coats at Kluger Furs since 2012.
“Everyone is warm, and they’re happy to let you look as long as you want,” he said.
“It’s very comfortable here.”
Sue Kluger complimented her staff during the ribbon-cutting.
“They’re fabulous,” she said. She told a guest later, “I always tell them the coats sell themselves. And it’s true.”
The successful business stretched across three generations when the Kluger’s son, Jordy, joined them. He now lives in the family home on Argyle Avenue in Homewood where the business had been located since the late 1950s. The Klugers moved their business to Flossmoor Commons in 1989.
“What interests me is what goes into making the coats ― the part you don’t see,” he said.
For Sue Kluger, the joy of running the business is in pleasing the customers. “What I like is going on a buying trip with Larry, picking out things and seeing later that our customers really like them,” she said.
“It’s also a lot of fun to watch generations come in. First it’s the grandmother, then the mother, then the daughter, and people buying for their grandchildren,” she said.
“What I really like is making people happy.”
Kluger on the expansion of the fur retailer’s store
space.