J. Conn Scott opens Route 1 showroom near Rehoboth

Richard Scott is 20 minutes into an interview about J. Conn Scott’s newest showroom on Route 1 in Rehoboth, and he’s getting antsy.

“I never sit at my desk this long,” he said. “I’m usually out on the floor, working on blueprints, doing something,” said Richard, grandson to J. Conn Scott and company president.

Lisa S. Scott, Richard’s wife and operator of the J. Conn Scott Showhouse on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, confirms Richard’s inability to sit still.

“He’s definitely a hands-on boss,” said Lisa, shaking her head with a see-what-I-have-to-deal-with expression. “It’s his reputation on the line.”

Two weeks into a soft opening of the nearly 100-year-old business’ newest venture, the couple said things are going well. This is a great location, said Richard. It’s easily accessible from from Route 1, with plenty of parking, he said, but it sits back just enough so that it doesn’t feel like it’s part of the Route 1 congestion. J. Conn Scott’s original showroom opened in Selbyville in 1924, and the showhouse on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth opened in the early 2000s. Richard said J. Conn Scott is one of the 10 oldest, continually family-owned furniture companies in the United States.

Located behind M&T Bank, in a former Merrill Lynch office, Richard said the new one-story building had the bones of a good showroom but required major renovations. A customer is greeted with two hallways of furniture to choose from, Richard said. The hallways used to be lined with offices, but now it’s nothing but open space and natural light. He said miles and miles of wires, needed to secure Merrill Lynch banking transactions, had to be pulled out.

Lisa said customers who are used to finding high-quality, reasonably priced, one-of-a-kind offerings at their two existing locations won’t be disappointed at the new store.

“We love making people happy,” she said.

Everything in the store is for sale. The desk Richard sat at during the interview had a price tag hanging from the front. The chair Lisa sat in was for sale. Even the photo album holding photos of the months-long renovation was for sale.

Richard said there have been two pieces of art sold off the walls of his office, and he is already on his third desk. “You can’t have that mirror either, because that’s been sold,” he said.

In addition to the furniture, there are also stylish accents – unusual throw pillows, animal figurines straight from a Salvador Dali painting, cocktail napkins sure to solicit comments at a party, light fixtures that will perfectly accent an office or bathroom.

The company also offers a full-service design team, said Richard. “That’s part of our heritage. We’re not just a furniture store.”

Both Richard and Lisa said they pride themselves on being approachable and willing to accommodate a customer’s needs. It’s a management style Richard said he learned from his dad, who learned it from his dad.

“Dad didn’t leave anything to chance. He wanted to make sure all the customers were happy,” Richard said. “We’re here to have fun.”

Richard said there will be an official grand opening in the future, but the date is not set.

For more information on J. Conn Scott Interiors, 19535 Camelot Drive, Rehoboth, call 302-227-1850 or go to jconnscott.com.