In the Feb. 14 issue of the Signal Tribune, readers were asked to share their memories of the picture shown above. Long Beach residents Sandy Cummings, Bill Speaks and Susan Hoffman and Signal Tribune publisher Neena Strichart said:
Sandy Cummings of Long Beach
It was the retirement and sales of Sears Brothers Floor Coverings on Atlantic. Bill is the name of the owner, Bill Sears. Sears Brothers was a longtime neighborhood fixture on Atlantic Avenue next to Bake and Broil restaurant.
Bill still lives in the Los Cerritos neighborhood west of Long Beach Boulevard.
Bill Speaks of Long Beach
Sears Brothers Flooring Company was a family business and it was therefore a lot of years. I’m not sure how many. They had top service there and a large selection from many top manufacturers.
Susan Hoffman of Bixby Knolls
Bill Sears is my cousin. I was there and it was a lot of fun and very sad to see the store close. My father and my uncle were the ones who started it in 1933. There were three stores and this was the first. My other uncle had the store in Los Angeles and my dad has a store in Santa Monica. That’s where the name Sears Brothers came from, those brothers.
But the party was very fun and a very nice way to close.
Neena Strichart/Signal Tribune Publisher
I remember the cake very well. I should, I took the picture. The event was the July 28, 2001 surprise party for Bill Sears–celebrating his retirement and the closing of Sears Bros. Floor Covering, his family’s long-time business. The Bixby Knolls store was located at 3677 Atlantic Avenue. That day the place was literally packed wall-to-wall with friends, family, clients and various well-wishers sharing hugs, stories and refreshments.
