The Alabama Retail Association is mourning the loss of longtime board member, past chairman and Retailer of the Year Ricky Bromberg, a Birmingham jeweler whose connection to retail began long before he was old enough to run the family business.

Bromberg, president of Bromberg & Co., died Sept. 2 at age 67. In remembering him, the association said retail was more than a business to Bromberg — it was a way of life.

“I have always wanted to do this,” Bromberg told Alabama Retailer in a 2016 interview. “When I was a kid, the jewelry store was where I’d play; where I’d spend most of my day. There was not much difference in the conversation at home and around the dinner table than what was talked about inside the store.”

That lifelong connection to retail eventually extended well beyond Bromberg & Co.

Bromberg & Co. had been an Alabama Retail Association member since 1992. Bromberg served on the association’s board of directors beginning in 2006 and its executive committee beginning in 2013, but he traced his active involvement with the organization back to a state sales tax issue in 2000.

A state sales tax audit found the company owed $500 in back taxes and interest on merchandise it had donated to charity.

“We were trying to do the right thing and to be generous, and then were penalized for doing it,” Bromberg said.

Bromberg took the issue to the Alabama Retail Association, and after several years, the Inventory Reduction for Charitable Purposes Relief Act became law. Beginning July 1, 2006, donations of inventory valued at less than $10,000 were no longer taxable events in Alabama. The association credits Bromberg’s efforts with helping bring about the change.

“The Retail Association, through its collective voice, carries a lot of clout in Montgomery. And they listened,” Bromberg said.

“I’m pretty proud that it really passed!” he added. “To me, it’s a great example of what the association can do on behalf of its members. I encourage all retailers to bring these types of things to ARA’s attention. One person, one phone call, one conversation can really make a difference.”

Bromberg’s service to the association continued to grow. He was named the 2014 Gold Alabama Retailer of the Year in the annual sales $5 million to $20 million category and began his term as chairman of the association in January 2016.

“I’m honored to be a part of the voice for retailers in our state,” he said at the time.

Later that year, Bromberg was named one of five finalists for the National Retail Federation’s America’s Retail Champion Award. The recognition honored his advocacy on behalf of retailers, including his work with lawmakers in Montgomery and Washington.

His belief in the importance of Alabama’s local businesses was evident when he talked about the role retailers play beyond selling merchandise.

“Retailers everywhere are the bedrock of communities. It’s not just about employment; retail is part of the fabric of everyday life,” Bromberg said.

For Bromberg, that life in retail began early.

He was just 6 years old when he received his first “paycheck” from Bromberg’s on June 30, 1966 — a 50-cent piece for working as the elevator operator at the company’s downtown Birmingham store.

He later became the sixth generation of his family to lead Bromberg & Co., founded in 1836 by Frederick W. Bromberg, for whom Ricky was named.

After graduating with honors from the University of Alabama, Bromberg joined Macy’s Management Executive Development Program in New York City before returning to Birmingham and the family business. He would spend 43 years with Bromberg’s.

His service extended into the Birmingham community as well. Bromberg served as president of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce and held leadership positions with numerous professional, civic and charitable organizations. He was also an Eagle Scout and received The Altamont School’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025.

His obituary remembered him as “a Southern gentleman in every sense of the word,” someone rarely seen without a suit and tie but also known for his warmth, dry sense of humor, honesty and kindness.

In its tribute, the Alabama Retail Association said Bromberg was a respected retailer, leader and friend to many in the retail community.

“We are grateful for Ricky’s many years of service. His love for retail will leave a lasting legacy with the Association and throughout the industry he cared so deeply about.”

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].