Story & Photos by LaVerne Stevens
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If you want to reminisce about “old time” downtown Winter Haven, pull up a chair and talk to Nick Spagnola, owner of Peoples Furniture store located on the corner of 347 West Central Avenue and 4th St. N.W. in Winter Haven. The business is located across from Central Park in downtown Winter Haven.

“I remember when railroad tracks came right through the Central Park area,” says Nick, “The train would stop and the engineer would go into a store for a cold drink and then go on.” He speaks of serving the third generation of customers in Polk County now that he has been operating his store for thirty-eight years.

Nick started working in the furniture business as a young boy. He worked in his brother’s furniture store. Later he became manager of a chain furniture store and then started his own business. While living in Lakeland for five years he managed Mathers Furniture on Massachusetts Avenue. When Mathers opened a store in Winter Haven, Nick moved to Winter Haven to run the store that was located at 927 6th St. N.W. The Salvation Army now occupies that space.

In 1968 Mathers Furniture was being bought up by a group of stock holders. Nick decided he would open his own furniture business under the name of Peoples Furniture. The building he purchased is a historical landmark. It was originally Henry Tandy’s store in 1908.

As time progressed Tandy’s old building was torn down. A new three story structure was built on that corner. In the 1940’s Mr. Jacobson owned a clothing store on this site. His clothing store was on the first level and the third level was used as a civic center for weddings, parties and community events. Eventually Jacobson decided to remove the third story. He had stucco applied to the outside of the building. When Nick purchased the property in July 1968, the second floor was full of lumber and debris left from removal of the third story. He had to clean all that up to move in and open the business.

For many years Nick was the only full time employee running the store. Now Mike Anderson works with him and they have two part time delivery men. You can buy both new and used furniture at Peoples. The only used furniture Nick sells are pieces that have been taken in trade when new furniture is purchased. The showroom is a blend of new traditional pieces, used period furniture, and some bright-colored flashy pieces that have a definite Florida look. There are no appliances. You’ll find individual recliners, rockers, sofas, table and chair sets, beds, lamps, paintings and pictures for wall hangings. There is an excellent mattress department. There are lovely accent pieces and dining room china cabinets.

“We offer exceptional service,” says Nick. “If there is a problem with a piece of furniture we have the ability to fix it and make it right without having to send it back to the manufacturer.” Nick says they are probably the only furniture store in this area that offers free deliver, within the immediate city area for Lakeland, Haines City, Lake Alfred and Winter Haven. He’s hoping the high gas prices will not change this. He prefers to offer free delivery.

Nick was President of the Florida Furniture Dealers Association (FFDA) for a number of years. The wall near his office displays trophies and award plaques. He was awarded recognition for his work as president of the FFDA in 1978. There are trophies for golf and tennis. In 1997 and 1998 Nick and his partner took first place in the annual golf tournament sponsored by FFDA.

Peoples Furniture is open Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays they open at 9 a.m., but on days when the car shows are going on in the park they close at 1 p.m. Other Saturdays they remain open later. Peoples Furniture can be reached at (863) 294-4055.