Hallmark Store Closing
We received the following email:
I just discovered that Hallmark (by Thriftway) is closing after 15 years in Wilsonville. What a shame! Seems as though someone else wanted the space when their lease was up and was willing to pay a whole bunch more. Perhaps you could find out the whole story. I hate to see these businesses close - the people there were so friendly and knew everyone in the community. - Angie Stoffregen
Wilsonville is losing small businesses right and left it seems. The Jewelry store in the Wilsonville Town Center (Thriftway complex,) the Hallmark/Gift Shop in the Target-Costco complex, the Palms Salon, and now the Hallmark Store, again in the Thriftway complex.
When I entered the Hallmark store to do this interview, I overheard a customer discussing the closure with a woman who was ringing up her purchase. "We live in Tigard," the customer said, " but I come down here. I just love this store!"
The trouble began several months ago when the store owners began negotiating a new lease with the property management company, Norris & Stevens, Inc. The negotiations stretched out for over 8 months, with Cheryl Elardo, their Norris & Stevens Commercial Property Manager simply not responding to the last offer from the store owners.
A week or so before Christmas, the store’s busiest time of year, two men entered the store and spoke to manager of eight years, Suzanne Wigger. They said that they understood the space to be available for lease. This was the first she had heard of it. She told them that to her knowledge it was not.
After bringing the matter up with the owners, apparently the space was being considered for lease. Their lease had not yet been renewed.
Wigger and her business partner Ellen Dahle were shocked. They did not tell their employees until after the holiday rush. They didn’t have the heart to.
The two women had been considering buying the store, and began the process of gaining the necessary approval from Hallmark. Elardo agreed to give them some time for this process.
Then came the news about the rent. Norris & Stevens was demanding an additional $10 per square foot, bringing the cost up to a total of $25 per square foot for the property. The lease was extended for another month "thinking we had a chance," tells Dahle.
"We’re doing well enough to pay a little bit more on the rent. That is to be expected. Rents go up. Hallmark won’t allow for that kind of rent increase, though. It’s all about the money for the leasing agent," notes a resigned but grieving Wigger, " and it’s entirely a business decision on their part."
It’s not just about business for Wigger, Dahle and their many repeat customers.
As they told me of the many customers they have made personal connections with, they also recalled some who did not yet know of the closing. "One customer comes here from LaGrande when she visits Wilsonville," tells Dahle, " another cusomer comes from England, and we have customers who come from California to visit family here and make a point to shop."
Wiggers says, "This wasn’t just a job for us, it was our home. I have experienced so much sadness lately."
"How do we go on," Dahle asks, When we come in every day and tell this story and cry four or five times every day, it’s emotionally exhausting.
The extended lease is up on January 31. "We will close our doors on the 31st, but we have to be out before then, so our last day of business will likely be January 25th, " tells Dahle.
"Please tell our customers we are so sorry for losing our connection with the Wilsonville community," insists Wigger, "We want to thank them for their support. We appreciate all of the love received - that’s our biggest loss."
