13/65 – Conway Furniture … Highway 86, Just East Of Listowelll.
A couple of months ago I was at my side gig doing tours at Cowbell Brewing in Blyth. I was at the reception desk waiting for a group when one of the teen greeters said “Hey…I heard you were famous or something … that you work on the radio?”
“Well … I wouldn’t say famous, I said, ” I do the morning show at Cool 94.5″
Blank stare … “Oh … I think maybe my dad listens to that”
I let a few seconds pass and then said …. “Conway Furniture … Highway 86 just east of Listowelll”
“OMG you’re THAT guy … amazing … what’s that like? You ARE famous, Is the other guy your brother …will you sign this?”
Who knew all those decades ago that this is what my career might boil down too. The truth is … I don’t hate. It started as a bit of a joke but it caught on … I dunno.
This show is called “A Life That’s Good” …and focuses on things that have made life and my career in radio so incredible for close to 40 years … there’s no way I could do that without talking to my guest today. He has been such an important part of almost my entire career in radio.
Paul Dekker … is the “other” guy. ( and no, he’s not my brother …at least not my blood brother)
Before you ask why is it Conway Furniture and not Dekker Furniture … Paul’s dad, Peter Dekker and Jim Mulholland were installing carpet in Listowel in 1967, and saw an empty store front on the corner. So in starting a business together in that spot, they felt that maybe that maybe both of their last names where too “ethnic” at the time, they chose Jim’s mother’s maiden name, Conway, as the name for the store. I guess the rest is history.
We will talk about our history together, Paul’s dad and his family and the wider family of employees and customers and all the ups and downs … dreams, joys, sorrows … of running a small business in small town Ontario
I hope you’ll check it out on this week’s edition of “A Life That’s Good.”
And below, just a few pics.
