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caption, page 1:
From left to right: Deana Roach (5th generation), Gary Nadeau (4th generation), William Nadeau Jr. (3rd generation), Gerard Nadeau (4th generation), Colin Nadeau (5th generation).
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Top: Bill's Bedding in the early 1980s. Above: Bill's Bedding today.
Bill's Bedding sees
'new' owners
By Deana Roach
Five generations!
A multi-generational family business hit a new milestone in Danielson. Bill’s Bedding is welcoming its new of owners, Deana Roach and Colin Nadeau.
Roach is the daughter of Gary Nadeau and joined the award-winning family business in 1995. Colin Nadeau is the son of Jerry Nadeau and joined the family business in 2013. They are the fifth generation to own and operate one of the longest family-run businesses in Windham County.
Bill’s Bedding & Furniture’s interesting history started in 1902 with George Despathy, who was a Canadian immigrant. George opened his first business in Baltic in 1902, moving to a larger location in Moosup in 1918. As his business and reputation grew, his son Wilfred joined the business making Despathy’s Furniture a household name for anyone who was looking to purchase quality furniture or bedding.
In 1930 George decided to expand the business to Danielson, and purchased a building on Main Street. In 1954 George decided to move his business again in Danielson. He purchased land and built a custom building on Main Street where Bill’s Bedding is today. The grand opening for this location was in 1955. George passed away a year later.
Wilfred took over the family business and the company continued to flourish under his ownership. Longtime employee William Nadeau and now son-in-law (married to Wilfred’s daughter Joyce in 1950) now was part of the sales team as well as the delivery team, and installed carpet in the evenings. Their twin sons, Gary and Jerry, would go to furniture shows with their grandfather Wilfred on occasion and have many fond memories of playing in the Moosup and Danielson stores. Willimantic and Vernon locations were opened, making Despathy’s Furniture a three-store destination.
Wilfred Sr. decided to partially retire in the early 1970s, and his son, Wilfred Jr. took over the reins. During this time, the Willimantic store was closed and the Vernon store was opened. The long closed Danielson store was reopened as “Outsville”. Disaster struck in 1970s when the Moosup store was leveled by a devastating fire.
Bill and Joyce, however, wanted to continue their family business. With the Danielson store still available, Wilfred Sr. (who passed in 1979) and his wife Rose helped them find the way to start not a Despathy Furniture, but a new furniture store — Bill’s Bedding.
With hard work and perseverance, they reopened the Danielson location in 1979 with only one floor of furniture and mattresses. The rest of the building was used as warehouse space. In 1980 their son Gary joined them in the business and Bill and Joyce expanded the building to add more warehouse space. In 1986 their other son Jerry joined them as their business grew.
Bill and Joyce retired in 1993, and transferred their thriving business to their twin sons, Gary and Jerry. For the next 30 years the brothers faced many triumphs winning many awards and numerous accolades; as well as difficulties — economic downturns, COVID, etc. They remained steadfast and resolute in their business practices and firm beliefs of quality and customer service. They also continued their parents’ philanthropic work with local schools and charities.
This past year Gary and Jerry decided to retire from the furniture business. With Colin and Deana firmly in place, the fifth generation seems ready to move forward with big ideas, but staying true to the over 100 years’ worth of customer service, quality and values that they have grown up with all of their lives.
Gary and Jerry said the best part about owning the store was meeting new people and the relationships they have built with them over the years (in some cases, multi-generational).
Gary added making these customers happy has always been a pleasure.
The hardest part?
Jerry suggested that the day-to-day problem solving was difficult, while Gary said that the business model was constantly changing over the years, and “keeping up with the online stores was something we have never really had to compete with before.”
What will they miss the most? That was an easy question for them to answer: the people. Whether it is customers, the co-workers, or their sales reps, the many relationships that they have built throughout their 30 years of being part of the community will forever hold a special place in their hearts.
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