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 The
H.W. Rountrees Luggage Co. Inc.
as known today was founded in 1875 by Mr. H.W. Rountree Sr. and
brother. It was licensed to do business as H.W. Rountree &
Bro. Trunks, Bags and Valises. The original building was a four
story factory and retail outlet occupying a full city block on
West Franklin Street where they manufactured trunks, bags and
valises. They had a sales force covering all the better stores in
the South and some Northern stores. They were very successful
from the start and shortly thereafter were doing over a million
dollars in business from the wholesale factory. They were most
famous for their roller tray trunks which were patented in 1879.
Their first expansion outside Richmond was the opening of a
retail luggage store in Atlanta, Ga. about 1914. A second store
was opened in Norfolk, Va. in 1916. In 1900 they opened a large
Furniture and Luggage store at 111 West Broad Street. The
furniture store is still in business but has no connection with
Rountrees or do they sell luggage. The Atlanta store was doing
well. However a better location became available so they opened
their fifth luggage store on F Street close to present location
of Beckers. Mr. Rountree Sr. died in 1928 and the sons who were
operating the business decided to sell the Atlanta stores, the
Norfolk store and the Washington store, consolidating everything
in Richmond. This is when the brothers separated, one taking the
furniture business and the other opening a new Richmond store at
4th & Grace streets. The Tuerkes bought this store in 1954,
after both of the Rountree sons had passed away and The King
family acquired it in 1959. The King family opened a new store in
the WILLOW LAWN shopping center in 1966.Chesterfield opened in
its new location in 1997. Today there are two prominent locations
in the Richmond, Va area and two more in Virginia Beach, Va. and Williamsburg,
Va.
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