Bromberg’s employee celebrates 70 years of service

70 years is a long time to do anything.

But to work for a company, for the same family business for seven decades is remarkable.

Francis Wills Moore is a remarkable woman and the folks at Bromberg’s think she’s a one-of-a-kind employee. They must—the Brombergs hired her in 1939 and today they say she’s got a job as long as she wants.

Bromberg’s was founded in 1836, that’s a 174 years ago. I imagine back then that, like today, folks looked in the windows of the store and wondered how much such pretty things cost. 

In 1939, 18-year-old Francis Moore’s mother brought her downtown to ask for a job at Bromberg’s.  A man wrote her name down on a piece of paper and said if I don’t call you, just come on to work tomorrow. Francis’ mother knew Francis had a job.

“He said, if he didn’t call me. She said, ‘he can’t call you, we don’t have a phone.’ So, you had a job,“ Francis said.

Francis said her family was poorer than poor, no way to go to college, and a job was badly needed.

“We worked by the week, and I got $8 a week… and I thought I was rich,“ Francis said.

In 1939, 10 years away from the great depression, $8 a week was like being rich to her.

“I started making $12 a week… boy I had it made,“ Francis said.

Francis did a lot of things over the years for Bromberg’s. She developed a system to catalouge and inventory merchandise. Everything was kept in these big books. 

But, through her technique, she and others could find anything… always knew where to find what someone needed. 

“You don’t just find all of those ingredients with just one person you know, hard working, dedicated, honest as the day is long,“ said Ricky Bromberg.

The old books are still around and so is Francis, even though most recordkeeping is done by computer these days.

“Computers are great and they’re helpful, but at the end of the day, we’re a people business on both sides of the counter and behind the scenes and that is what is going to make any business stand apart,” Ricky Bromberg said.

When Francis started work here, she didn’t know how to get from West End to downtown. And she paid 7 cents each way and brought her lunch each day. She loves her work… she always has.

“Number one I like the people I worked around, number two it was to feel something expensive like this, and to just think about from whence I came to what I’m doing now,“ Francis said.

From whence I came… from a working family in West End… an 18-year-old girl whose dedication, honesty, loyalty, and work ethic has kept her part of the Bromberg family for all these years…..and more.

“As long as she wants to come in… we’re glad to have her. We’ve reached the 70th milestone and now we’re shooting for 80,“ Bromberg said.