Peoria's Oldest Discount Store Grows Again
In the 1940's a gentleman from Peoria went to the freight yards and noticed something they called unclaimed freight. He paid pennies on the dollar for the merchandise and re-sold it to locals for incredibly low prices. This idea grew into a business he called "Unclaimed Freight Store". As the business grew he moved into a building to store and sell his goods.
In 1967 Unclaimed Freight Store built a store on SW Adams Street. Mitchell Serafin was hired as general manager and the business thrived on what was then the south part of downtown Peoria. Mr. Serafin bought a share of the business from one of two brothers, and then in 1985 he bought the remaining interest from the other brother.
Today his son Pierre, and his son-in-law Tom Wiegand keep the business growing despite the not so popular location. Many retailers have abandoned this part of town in favor of greener pastures in the suburbs, but the store now known as UFS Savings Center remains. People don't seem to mind since the prices at UFS are so incredibly low, after all at UFS, "It's All About the Deals." High rent means higher prices for folks. Tom and Pierre would not allow that to happen so the decision was made to stay on Adams St. and add the Appliance and Cabinet store.
In 2003 UFS invested over $2,000,000.00 to develop blighted property directly across the street. The new store was opened as an Ashley Furniture Home Store. In 2007 the Ashley company and UFS decided to part ways and the store is now the UFS Furniture and Mattress Outlet managed by Claire Wiegand. This building houses not only furniture and mattresses but also appliances and cabinets.
A re-modeling project for the face lift of the original discount store was completed in May 2008. Now there are two separate buildings that make up the new "UFS Downtown Outlet Center". This is a leading edge development that allows UFS to be one of Peoria's most successful, locally owned, family businesses.
UFS remains Peoria's original and most popular discount store. They survive by giving people great deals and great service, a reputation of which they are extremely proud.
