Peter Nicklas began the business at 324 South Main Street in 1860. The business moved to 66 South Main Street in 1865 and became P. Nicklas & brothers when brother Adam Nicklas became a working partner. Together the Nicklas brothers continued to build the business and on June 7, 1879 the brothers relocated the business to the present site at 37 South Main Street.
In 1880 W. Otterbein Nicklas, who was the cousin of the founder was added as another working partner and the business name became P. Nicklas Brothers & Company. Over the next 26 years the business continued to prosper and became incorporated on October 2, 1906 as P. Nicklas Sons Inc.
Being a very complex and dedicated company is the reason for their success. Carpet was woven on 12 hand looms, fine furniture crafted, assembled and finished in their own wood working /paint shops. P. Nicklas enjoyed continuous operation until November 1, 1920 when the building was destroyed by fire. A new, modern and much larger P. Nicklas Sons Inc. building was erected in its place. After operational improvement and marketing adjustments The P. Nicklas building that we see today continued to provide Chambersburg and the surrounding areas with quality furniture, floor coverings, draperies and interior decorating service.
P. Nicklas Sons Inc. was the oldest retail business in Chambersburg operating under the original family name until the firm was purchased by the Waltersdorf Corp. in February 1, 1961. Reginald B. Nicklas grandson of the founder remained as general manager of the firm until he retired in 1979.