After more than 100 years in business, a well-known Dubuque retailer is set to close in early 2025.
Rhomberg’s Fur & Leather Gallery will close March 31, according to fourth-generation owner Jim Rhomberg. The store at 1000 White St. specializes in handcrafted fur and leather goods, among other items.
The closure is prompted by the lack of a fifth generation interested in carrying on the business, Rhomberg said, as well as the recent retirement of two longtime employees.
“The past 25 years (of my ownership) have been exceedingly rewarding, … and I’m honored every day to work alongside our staff,” Rhomberg reflected. “I have a fabulous family, but I just don’t have anyone in that fifth generation looking to come on board.”
The business first opened in 1907 as Dubuque Tanning and Robe Co. under Frank Rhomberg, Jim Rhomberg’s great-grandfather. At the time, the company specialized in the tanning of skins and production of fur robes — particularly those worn to keep warm during carriage rides.
By 1916, the business had grown enough to relocate from its original Main Street location to a larger facility on White Street. To this day, the three-story building includes a retail showroom, upper-level production floor and temperature-controlled storage rooms.
Shortly thereafter, Frank Rhomberg’s son Karl assumed ownership of the business and launched a retail store specializing in women’s fashion. Karl Rhomberg subsequently was joined by his son Roger Rhomberg, father to Jim Rhomberg.
“Each generation has seen the business through their own lens and their own vision,” Jim Rhomberg said. “Every generation had its own strategy (for growth) that worked best for them.”
Eventually renamed Rhomberg Furriers and later Rhomberg’s Fur & Leather Gallery, the family-run business forged a regional reputation for high-quality products and dedicated customer service.
In the early 20th century, additional Rhomberg stores opened in Rockford, Ill., and Davenport, Iowa, — both of which since have closed — and Roger Rhomberg later launched a fleet of company vehicles that traveled the Midwest to provide fur storage and repair services.
Jim Rhomberg then grew the business even further to include leather services and spearheaded a significant expansion to the store’s retail offerings that can be seen today in the racks and shelves of coats, sweaters, jewelry and more.
“My favorite word is perfect,” Rhomberg said. “With every garment in here, we guarantee a perfect fit, … and every member of our staff goes to great lengths to meet that standard for our customers.”
Store associate Ann Fagerlind has worked at Rhomberg’s Fur & Leather Gallery for over 30 years and said first-time customers often are surprised by the breadth and quality of the store’s offerings.
Others report a sort of intimidation when it comes to shopping for items made with unique furs or other high-quality fabrics, she said, so staff are always on hand to answer questions or help visitors find the perfect item.
“We want it to be fun for people to come and shop here,” she said. “We love our product and we love what we do, so why wouldn’t we want (customers) to love it, too?”
She added that Rhomberg staff are “like a real family,” a sentiment that extends from the store’s employees to its new and returning customers.
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Member Relations Dan Sullivan said Rhomberg’s Fur & Leather Gallery has been a cornerstone of the downtown business community for over 100 years. Sullivan commended the company on its long tenure and thanked the Rhomberg family for its contributions to the greater Dubuque area.
“I think obviously when you’ve been doing something (since 1907), you’ve been doing it right,” Sullivan said. “It’s not just a brick-and-mortar anymore. They’ve become a real part of the fabric of downtown Dubuque.”
In preparation for the store’s closure, Jim Rhomberg has connected with other industry leaders from across the region to best advise customers on where to direct future retail and repair business.
The Dubuque store also is running a sale over the next several months to empty out inventory ahead of the closure, he said, with discounts on everything from gloves and handbags to sweaters and full-length coats.
Additionally, visitors can fill out cards at the store with their favorite memory of the store to enter into a raffle for free or discounted merchandise.
“This isn’t a funeral. It’s a celebration,” Rhomberg said. “We’re going to be saying our goodbyes, and our customers are going to be getting some good buys. I want it to be a happy time, even at the end.”