With addition of Conlin’s in Sioux Falls, Montgomery’s prepares for year of expansion

This paid piece is sponsored by Montgomery’s.

Montgomery’s owner and president Eric Sinclair is walking the show floor of the former Conlin’s Furniture in Sioux Falls, detailing what’s waiting for shoppers at the store’s going-out-of-business sale.

“The consumer has huge opportunities right now,” Sinclair said. “The deals to be had are ones I haven’t seen in years. Some of the things we were able to procure for this sale are just mind-blowing.”

Montgomery’s acquired the Conlin’s store late last year and will be managing the going-out-of-business sale for its former neighbor at 1703 W. 41st St. for the next several months.

“This is a small industry, so we’ve known the owners of Conlin’s a long time and have done business together and talk a lot,” Sinclair said.

“Through that, the opportunity came up to acquire not just their building but hire some of their people, so the combination of the real estate and the talent made us feel really blessed it came together.”

At the going-out-of-business sale, consumers will find not just the final merchandise from Conlin’s but also ongoing truckloads of discounted merchandise that Montgomery’s is bringing in to support the months-long event.

“We’ll supplement the inventory, and this is a very good time to do it because a lot of manufacturers are overstocked, so there are great deals to be had,” Sinclair said.

“What’s different about this going-out-of-business sale is that we’re managing it. Normally if you buy when someone is going out of business, when you have a problem you’re left holding the bag. Now, we’ll be here if you need anything after the sale, so you’ll get the best of both worlds.”

While now is the time for consumers to invest in everything from a new piece of furniture to a whole home makeover, it also was the opportune time for Montgomery’s to invest in building its business, he said.

“It’s really challenging in retail right now. Consumers are being more cautious, but we have seen increased traffic and enthusiasm recently, so I’m optimistic 2025 will be back to what we’d normally expect with a little bit of growth,” Sinclair said.

“As a company, even though it’s a tough time to be buying a business, that’s usually when the opportunity arrives, and historically Montgomery’s sees growth because we invest and then benefit coming out of tough times. So we feel the timing now is almost perfect as the consumer is feeling more confident and we’re positioned to expand our footprint in the most exciting market in South Dakota.”

Once the final sales are in at Conlin’s, Montgomery’s will set to work connecting the building with its existing store to the west. That will create a look of five individual facades and position Montgomery’s for some exciting additions.

A large breezeway will connect the two buildings, allowing for half of the former 35,000-square-foot Conlin’s to be converted into a large design center.

“It will allow us to bring our flooring, window treatments, lighting and wallpaper into one really nice area that’s more cohesive for the consumer,” Sinclair said.

The hope is to lease the balance of the building, ideally to a complementary retailer that supports the home industry.

“I could see something like appliances, fireplaces, any number of things that would make sense with what we offer and provide convenience for the customer,” Sinclair said. “We also have a 10,000-square-foot warehouse included with that building, which is impossible to find on 41st Street anymore and is a dream for a retailer looking for a high-traffic area with on-site warehousing. There’s really nothing like that in this part of town.”

The space freed up in the existing Montgomery’s store will offer big opportunities for shoppers.

Expect to see an enhanced Montgomery’s Modern showroom, reflecting building trends and consumer demand.

“A lot of houses going up now are very clean, and we want to be a leader in helping furnish them, which is why we started Montgomery’s Modern 10 years ago way ahead of the curve,” Sinclair said. “So this is a great chance to reset that part of the store, bringing in products that fit the aesthetic people are looking for.”

The additional space also means Montgomery’s will begin carrying price points that are popular in some of its other South Dakota stores.

“There’s great product in our other stores we’ve not brought to Sioux Falls because we didn’t have the room in our stores,” Sinclair said.

“The customer who says Montgomery’s is too expensive now has the chance to see what we do in our other markets, with some bestsellers and things you haven’t been accustomed to seeing in Sioux Falls. It’s an opportunity to bring high-fashion, quality inventory in at more popular price points.”

The Montgomery’s team has grown to 120 people, and “we spend an immense amount of time as owners” supporting the company’s family-based culture, Sinclair added.

He spent the past two weeks meeting one-on-one with every employee, gaining feedback that will be reflected in the coming year.

“We’re very committed to that part of our world,” he said. “We have a Culture Club that meets every month to work on honing the kind of workplace we want to be, and we work hard to make sure people feel they’re part of a small family business that cares.”

To learn more about Montgomery’s, stop in anytime or begin online here. 

Hours for the Conlin’s going-out-of-business sale will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.