Smulekoff's history begins in 1889 on a stormy day when a Russian immigrant named Henry Smulekoff entered a one room shop on May's Island to get out of the rain.  He left after purchasing the business with money saved from peddling dry goods in the rural areas.  Soon after, he converted the business to a furniture store and a Cedar Rapids legend began.
  By 1890, Mr. Smulekoff had built a larger store adjacent to the original site.  He named it "Smulekoff's Island Store".  The farmers who Mr. Smulekoff called on as a peddler now drove to him to buy his furniture and goods.