Siouxland business celebrates 100 years

By JoANN AMMANN, GLOBE intern
June 29, 2006

A local store is celebrating 100 years of business in the Siouxland area. FitzGibbons Company, a religious store, originated in 1906 by a man named Maurice FitzGibbon. FitzGibbon began his business by selling catechisms for grade school children from his garage. Later, he expanded his sales to include selling other religious products from his car on the road. Maurice later retired and his son, Maurice Junior, took over and established a store in Sioux City on Douglas Street. Eventually, Maurice Junior expanded the store into a full line church goods store. The FitzGibbon family ran the store for 55 years.

Margaret Woerth purchased the store in 1961, relocated and also expanded it to a downtown location. Clergy and church supplies and candles were located in the basement and Paschal candles were stored in a separate building one door away from the store. Margaret hired Paul Sokolowski in 1966, who at the time was 16. Paul continued to work at the store through college, and upon his graduating from Briar Cliff College he became employed full time at FitzGibbons. Paul and Margaret operated the store until her retirement.

In 1988, Paul, along with his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Peter Johnson, purchased the store and expanded it and moved in 1989. In 1991, the store moved again to its current location on 5th Street that now allows the store to be all on one floor and to also have a parking lot.

"We were at the old location for about one year and the landlord wouldn't make any repairs. We found all three of these sections available to rent," said Mary Johnson. "We would only accept a downtown location and we had to have a parking lot. Also priests are able to stop here when they are at the hospital and we were eager to keep the store on one floor."

The move also allowed the owners to secure a warehouse to increase the candle storage capacity of the store. Custom orders for church items such as Belgium Vestments, Italian woodcarvings, carrera marble and solid bronze statuary have become a specialty for the store.

The most recent and most memorable sale that the current storeowners have seen was that of a 12-foot square hand-carved wooden sculpture, titled "The Risen Christ of All Creation."

Johnson explained that the piece is the largest that they have sold and is why it's their favorite thus far in their business experience.

"It is the largest piece that we have ever sold and it was a thrill negotiating exactly what they wanted, between the Archbishop of Anchorage, the liturgical director, the wood carvers in Italy and the contractors for the new church," Johnson said. "The title of the piece, 'The Risen Christ of All Creation' is a perfect match for a new church."

The sculpture was purchased for a new church being built in Anchorage and was shipped from Ortisei, Italy. It was sold through the art studio, Demetz, which is a studio that creates pieces of religious works for various groups and institutions, also which FitzGibbons has worked with on several other occasions. FitzGibbons is able to work with the studio because of their membership to the National Church Goods organization, which is a group that meets and assembles once a year. It also gives members an up-to-date list of merchandise available for purchasing.

In addition to the large carving sold to the church in Alaska, they have done several other notable pieces in the Siouxland area as well as throughout the Midwest.

The outdoors statue of the Holy Family at Blessed Sacrament and the Statue of Mary at Immaculate Conception both of Sioux City, were done through the store, as well as several pieces for churches in Omaha, and also a piece for St. Francis Borgia Parish in Blair, Neb.

With 85 percent of the store's income coming from the churches, FitzGibbons relies heavily on the Siouxland area to maintain a strong business.

"The need and support of people especially in the Sioux City Diocese, the churches and the Catholic laity are what have allowed us to remain successful," said Mary Johnson. "Any church in Sioux City is going to tend to deal in their own area, we know the customer and they know you."

The store currently has around 1,800 open accounts, which includes a variety of customers, ranging from 200 Protestant churches and to various priests and Catholic Churches. While the majority of their customers are from the Sioux City Diocese area, FitzGibbons also serves the Dioceses of Rapid City, Lincoln, Grand Island and most recently the diocese in Anchorage, Ala.

"We regard what we do as both a ministry and as a service. Sales follow with what you can do for the priests," said Johnson. "We could not wish for better customers with the priests and Catholic laity. We are supporting them in their ministry."

While Johnson enjoys working with the different customers, one of her favorite parts of working at FitzGibbons is the employees. "The best thing is that I can work with my husband," said Johnson. "We think clearly of one mind. We have a good time everyday and look forward to coming to work."

In order to celebrate the store's 100th anniversary, FitzGibbon's hosted a formal dinner at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center for active and retired priests of the Dioceses of Sioux City, Sioux Falls and Omaha on June 25.

On July 10, FitzGibbons will be hosting an open house throughout the day at their store, which will be open to all.