Maggie J’s Dress Shop in Corbin celebrating 70 years of business

Above, Maggie J’s owner Maxine Von Gruenigen poses for a photo inside her iconic downtown Corbin store Monday. She’s has owned Maggie J’s for the last 46 years. Her aunt, Maggie J. Wyrick, originally founded the business.

One of Corbin’s most iconic downtown businesses is celebrating a milestone this weekend.

Maggie J’s Dress Shop will officially turn 70-years-old on Saturday, and owner Maxine Von Gruenigen said even at age 82 she still enjoys every day she spends in the store.

"Everybody says, ‘why don’t you retire and go home?’ I always tell them, I am at home. This store is more home to me than my home," Von Gruenigen said. "I don’t know what it is. When I come here in the morning and turn those lights on and walk through this store, there’s just a sense of self-satisfaction. I don’t dread it. Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but honestly I still enjoy coming down here. I enjoy doing this."

Maggie J’s first opened in downtown Corbin on Feb. 19, 1942 next to what is now Freeman and Childers Law Offices. It contained a women’s clothing store and adjacent shoe shop and was more than double it’s current size.

The store was founded by Von Gruenigen’s aunt, Maggie J. Wyrick. Her husband, Roy, ran the shoe store.

Roy died in his 40s, so Wyrick and Von Gruenigen were left to run the business. Immediately, they ran into struggles.

"I remember we went to St. Louis to buy shoes, Maggie J. and I did, and when we got there, they wouldn’t sell them to women," Von Gruenigen said. "They said you had to have a man to run the shoe store."

"Here we were with this store which is twice to three times bigger than what I’ve got now, and we had no stock to put in it."

Von Gruenigen said she and Maggie J. worked through any roadblocks to build a solid customer base and profitable business.
Wyrick was quite a bit older than Von Gruenigen. When Wyrick had to have back surgery and was away from the store for about a year, Von Gruenigen was forced to take over.

"She told me I would just have to run the store. I said, "Lord have mercy! I can’t run this store.’ I was just 26-years-old," Von Gruenigen said. "She told me I could do it and that she would give me a budget. I took it and did it. That’s kind of the way I came into the store. It was real on-job-training."

Maggie J. lost interest in the store years later. She never had any children, so offered it to her niece who, at first, declined.

"I had been through a lot and didn’t know what I was doing," Von Gruenigen said. "I went home and stayed a week. My son went to camp and the last day of that week I decided, boy I don’t want to be at home like this. I came back down there and I said don’t sell that store. I’ve changed my mine. I want it."

After 24 years, Maggie J was out and Von Gruenigen took over as owner. Forty-six years later she is still the face of the business, and it’s sole proprietor.

"I’ve worked 67 straight Christmas Eves at this store and never missed," Von Gruenigen said. "I have never missed a NIBROC parade … I have never missed any of it."

The store moved to its currently location – next to Gibson’s Music – when Von Gruenigen realized its previous location was too large.

Von Gruenigen said she hasn’t missed out on other things in life simply because she owns the store. She and her husband, Eldred, have traveled to all 50 U.S. States, and have taken five trips across the Atlantic Ocean, including three to Switzerland where her husband’s family originated.

"I’ve been to the beach 42 years of our married life," Von Gruenigen said. "We’ve done it all. I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything. I’ve had a really good life. I’ve been really blessed."

During her stint as owner, Maggie J’s has had only six employees Von Gruenigen said. Two worked there for 24 years and two worked 14.

Part of the reason her employees stay so long, she said, is because working at the store is a fun, family-like experience.

"I don’t feel like I’m above anybody or anything. I don’t really do much bossing," Von Gruenigen said. "We have a good time with it. We don’t make hard work out of it … I think of my employees as family. We work together and we play together."

Von Gruenigen said she never changed the name of the store to "Maxine’s" or something similar out of respect to her aunt, who let her have the business, and because it gives her a sense that she is not really the owner which makes the pressure or running a store less prevalent.

Maggie J’s sells high-end women’s clothing. While a down economy has hurt in recent years, Von Gruenigen said it still "pays the bills," and that the business has many loyal customers.

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Maggie J’s is going to offer up to 70 percent discounts on some merchandise. Also, anyone that makes a purchase on Friday or Saturday will get to draw from a special discount tree and will be able to take an additional $10 to $25 off the total.

Also, Von Gruenigen said she would be giving away 50 scarves to customers during the two-day event.