HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-03-15, Page 3Business c
News
es inevitable
Retention committee says closure, sale
of businesses part of yearly changes
By Susan Hundertmarlt
Expositor Staff
Recent changes to businesses on
Seafonh's Main Street, including the two
empty storefronts, are part of the
"inevitable yearly changes" of a small
town's downtown business section, says
Gwen Devereaux. spokesperson of the
Business Retention and Expansion
committee.
And, despite recent concern that the
clo*ure of Seaforth District High School
will adversely affect the downtown, none
of the'businesses closing or changing
hands recently cited the high school's
closure as the reason.
Chris Josling, co-owner of Wood You
Like to Paint:_ says she and her husband
Gary are moving their Main Street
business to their home because they are.
not receiving enough walk-in trade to
cover their expenses.:
"The closing of the high school will
probably affect Main Street as the years
go by but the big supermalls are affecting
Main Street the most by taking people out
of town to shop," she says.
Josling says they will continue their
painting classes at their home after their
shop closes in April, a move they have
been considering for about a year.
Joanne Flannagan, owner of the now -
empty Kids Kloze, says she closed her
shop for personal reasons.
"It wasn't that the shop wasn't doing
well. It was the time commitment of
running a small business. It's very
demanding," she says.
Alta Wilbur, owner of Sally's Closet,
put her business up for sale two -and -a -
half months ago, but so far hasn't had any
takers.
"I'm not willing to close it because it
makes money but I'm realizing I'm not a
nine to five retail girl. I think this is a good
little town and a good little business and
I'll be staying open until it sells." she says.
Jean delong. who recently sold Flower
Magic to Brenda Forbes, of Owen Sound
said, "It's just time for a change and I'm
ready to move on.. The business will be
staying exactly the same but I won't be
there."
Liz Moir, of the Seaforth Sewing
Centre, is selling off all her fabric but will
not be closing the shop.
"I'm going to concentrate on sewing
and offering thread, notions, zippers and
buttons," she says.
Moir says she can't compete with the
large fabric stores and has found fabric to
be a very slow seller. However, she says
she'll still make special orders for bridal
parties and curtains.
Devereaux says the Business Retention
and Expansion committee is beginning to
offer breakfast meetings. starting. this
Thursday at 7:45 a.m., in order to "tie
Main Street businesses more tightly to us"
and provide opportunities for networking.
"The. thing we have to work: on is our
heritage Main Street. Tourists come
through here all the time between
Stratford and Goderich and we have to
catch them so they'll shop here. We have
a fabulous 'location and we have to make
it something to come and see." she says.
"We're on the fringe of good things
happening here," says Devereaux.
While she doesn't specify if any
businesses have been found to fill the
empty storefronts on Main Street,
Devereaux says she wants to recruit them
quickly.
"We get inquiries from businesses all
the time but we want them•to be viable."
she says.
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