Furniture, home decor venture arrives on C-Street

A family-owned and operated retail shop has a grand opening set for January on Commercial Street after making a brief debut last month.

The door at LeDoux’s Furniture and Whatnots opened Nov. 16 and 30 as a soft launch, said Adrian Fruge, who co-owns the 422 W. Commercial St. shop with his mother, Candace Fruge, and his sister, Olly Fruge. He said the store mostly will be closed during December, save for Dec. 19-21, to coincide with a Christmas shopping event on C-Street. Its grand opening is scheduled for Jan. 4.

“It’s a variety store with a focus on vintage, reclaimed and upcycled furniture, as well as home decor. So, it’s certainly a focus on home items,” Fruge said of the store, which fills 2,200 square feet in space formerly occupied by bicycle repair business Trail Labs LLC.

The furniture includes end tables, shelving, chairs and couches, he said, adding the shop also sells products such as essential oil diffusers, yoga equipment and art-focused supplies.

Fruge declined to disclose startup costs or the one-year lease rate with landlord and building owner Fran Young. The shop is next door to both the Ozarks Model Railroad Association and Moon City Pub, which reopened on C-Street in August, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

LeDoux’s Furniture and Whatnots marks a first-time retail venture of its kind for the Fruges, he said. However, Fruge said his mother is familiar with business ownership, noting she owns Circle on the Square, a counseling practice she operates downtown at 800 E. Walnut St. Additionally, she is a Realtor with EXP Realty LLC, he said.

Fruge said he and his sister will primarily handle the day-to-day operations at LeDoux’s, adding it will initially just be the three family members staffing the shop. He said the venture’s moniker is an homage to his maternal grandmother’s maiden name.

The family has lived near and frequently traveled to Commercial Street over the past 15 years, Fruge said, adding there was a desire to open a shop in the area when and if an opportunity arose.

“We’ve kind of had our heart set on C-Street for a long time, and furniture restoration and woodworking has been a passion of ours for a long time,” he said.