A Literary Life

Ann and Eric Fetsch, owners of Drexel Heritage, retire after 35 years
By Kate Jonuska

They met in working in a furniture store in Denver while they were both in college, and through the course of a 35-year career in interior design and furnishings, Ann and Eric Fetsch managed to run a series of successful businesses, engage and improve the Colorado Springs community, and remain happily married. But there comes a time in any life to turn a corner, to move into a new chapter, and for the Fetschs — who own Drexel Heritage Furniture on Woodmen Road — the time to segue into their next great adventure is now.

“It’s certainly bittersweet in some ways. We’ve had a lot of wonderful relationships built over time,” says Ann Fetsch of their impending retirement from their furniture and design careers, which included owning Country Classics, which then became Colorado Classics, on Garden of the Gods Road and their five-year spell as Drexel Heritage retailers. “It’s scary to think what change can bring, but after 35 years, it’s definitely time for us to make that change.”

“We have family and places to be that we haven’t been and we need to get to,” explains Eric Fetch, who wants to free up more time for travel, the couple’s biking hobby and their non-profit involvement. After some spell of rest, the always active Fetschs may explore other exciting opportunities. “We’ll be finding our encore career,” jokes Eric. “We’ve only had the one so far.”

Not that either of these two community entrepreneurs regret a single moment of the career they’re leaving behind. Both have thrived on the creativity of interior design and love working with people, helping families create warm, happy and comfortable homes. In the past few years, they’ve seen the children of previous customers come to outfit their own homes and enjoy watching the generations unfold.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the June 14, 2009 Springs Jobs.