The Exploits Regional Chamber of Commerce (ERCC) is saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Boyd Cohen, a founding member of the Grand Falls Board of Trade, which transitioned to the current ERCC.
Mr. Cohen was a giant in the business world, not only in the Grand Falls-Windsor area, but across the Province and Atlantic Canada. His resume is one of a man that was dedicated to his craft, as well as his family and community.
The founder of the Cohen’s furniture chain, Boyd Cohen was born in 1930 in Windsor, Newfoundland.
The Cohen family history in the province dates to the turn of the century when Boyd Cohen’s grandfather Simon emigrated from England to work with the Newfoundland Clothing Company in St. John’s. In 1919, he established a general store at Grand Falls Station, which later became the Town of Windsor.
Simon’s sons and grandchildren later joined the family business, and established business enterprises of their own. His son Michael became General Manager of the family business. He was in turn, succeeded by his son Boyd.
In 1953, Boyd Cohen built his first furniture store in Windsor. It was followed by a larger store in 1956 and expansion into Gander, Springdale, Baie Verte and Clarenville. By 1985, when Boyd Cohen decided to sell the business to Charles R. Bell, Cohen’s owned 13 furniture stores provincewide and were preparing to open another three. Cohen remained involved as Managing Director until his retirement in 1994.
In addition to the furniture business, Boyd Cohen was a driving force behind other ventures in central Newfoundland including the launch of Central Cable Systems in Grand Falls and various Real Estate operations. He has served as president of service clubs in Grand Falls-Windsor including the Lion’s Club and Rotary Club. He was also president of the Allied Buying Group, a consortium of Independent Furniture Dealers from across Canada.
And he was no stranger to the business community. A native and longtime resident of Grand Falls-Windsor, Cohen’s family founded the provincial furnishings giant Cohen’s Home Furnishings. However, before the furnishing giant came S Cohen and Sons. Their first retail clothing store was on the road going into Bonavista. His grandfather Simon Cohen, the S in S Cohen and Sons, rented the building for his sons.
“The story was my grandfather was from the Ukraine,” Cohen explains, adding his grandfather was a Ukrainian farmer who decided to flee when farmlands began to be taken over. In 1904 he went to England and my father was born in London, England. His younger brothers were born in the United States later. My grandfather came to Newfoundland in 1911; he was brought in by the Newfoundland Clothing Company first. He was a cutter and he had to train people how to make suits. My grandfather knew about this building and he got it for his sons.” Mr. Cohen says Clara Smallwood, Joey Smallwood’s wife, worked there as a sales lady.
Mr. Cohen got his start in business at the age of 19 in the S Cohen and Sons store on Main Street in the former town of Windsor after attending Mount Allison University, where he completed business classes.
His father died at age 42 and his uncle Jack became sick a couple of years later so his wife, Norma Cohen, ran the business.
“She called me and she said, ‘Tell me, are you going back to university.’ and I said ‘No.’ She said, ‘Well, you are hired,’” Cohen reminisces.
He said he wasn’t much older than that when they started the chamber’s predecessor, the Grand Falls Board of Trade. Cohen was on the original committee.
In 1956, the company running the former mill in town retracted its old policy that people had to work in the mill or own a piece of land in Grand Falls, Cohen says.
“We started breaking those rules in 1936,” he says with a smile.
“My father knew Sir Vincent Jones and Sir Vincent Jones went and signed off on our house.”
Cohen says his first furniture store was built in Windsor, a 22-by-70-foot building added on to the S Cohens and Sons clothing store.
“Then my next one was down on High Street,” he says.
“I built that place right here where Charlie Edwards had the theatre originally and I had to put the entrance into the theatre because he was built behind it and the town wanted something to fill in there in a hurry, so they broke all the rules. That was many, many moons ago.”
He had a 10,000 square foot store, and he gave Charlie Edwards a long entrance the full length of the store because he needed an entrance on High Street. At its peak, Cohen’s Home Furnishings had 23 stores across the province. He had also been involved in real estate, housing other businesses throughout Grand Falls-Windsor.
“The chamber was a good help. I always felt it was necessary to have a chamber. I love Grand Falls. I love Central Newfoundland. I just hope I live long enough to see everything get a little bit better.”
Although initially, the first 20 members of the first chamber were from the former Town of Grand Falls, they are now at 200 members and regional. However, he says some of the biggest obstacles for the chamber years ago was getting membership, which hasn’t changed.
“It was a place to file your complaints with the community, business complaints, property ownership and all that,” Cohen says. “As far as I’m concerned the chamber is the chamber, it does its duty.” *
A celebration of Boyd’s extraordinary life will be held at the Exploits Nordic Ski Club (35 Scott Ave, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL) on Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 between 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
The Exploits Chamber of Commerce sends its sincere condolences to the family of Boyd Cohen. His contribution to this Chamber and this community will never be forgotten.
*Excerpts from Exploits Chamber of Commerce-70 Years Anniversary Publication
