The Heritage Shop is closing at Fairlane Village mall, Norwegian Township.
“Everything has to go,” Andrew J. Cox, a consultant with J.I. Investment Holdings Inc., said Tuesday.
The last day of business for the Hallmark Gold Crown card and gift shop is July 23 or earlier if all merchandise and fixtures are sold, he said.
Cox said store owner Chris Matus of Matus Enterprises Inc., Wilkes-Barre, wanted to close it.
“The owner at this point is somewhat exhausted,” Cox said.
A call to Matus was not returned Tuesday. Matus owns about 17 stores, according to www.heritageshop.com, which has a listing of Hallmark brand stores in Pennsylvania. He is listed as the president of the stores, some of which are in the process of closing. Cox declined to say when the decision was made to close the store in Pottsville.
The store formerly at the Schuylkill Mall closed Feb. 22, 2014.
Deb Schlear, store manager for 17 years, said she thinks The Heritage Shop had the space in Fairlane Village mall since the store opened in 1974. She is the only full-time employee. There are between seven and eight other store employees. She declined to say when employees were notified of the closure and if financial compensation was available.
“There are some great employees here. They do a terrific job,” Cox said.
Heather Stine, property manager at Fairlane Village mall, was not available for comment.
Matus said the gates were lowered at the close of business Friday at 9 p.m. to prepare for the sale, and the store will reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday for the closing sale. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
“This is a total liquidation,” he said.
Discounts of 10 to 75 percent off will be made. Greeting cards will be at least 50 percent off, and puzzles and Yankee candles will be marked 20 percent off. Vera Bradley handbags will be 10 percent off regular price. There will also be 10 prizes available to win. The prizes include a 58-inch Samsung LED TV, a GPS and Dell laptop. Prizes will be awarded 1 p.m. July 23.
The loss will be felt in the community, Cox said.
“Everyone is going to miss it,” he said.
Schlear said she felt the same.
“The people are definitely going to miss it. We have excelled in customer service. We have wonderful customers,” she said.
She said she will miss the relationship the store built with the community.
Schlear said store employees could not provide comments.
Jaci Twidwell, public relations and social media representative with Hallmark, said the store is independently operated and could not comment.
Anna Wetzel, 75, of Pottsville, is one of the many customers who will miss the store and was unaware it was closing.
“It makes me feel sad,” she said.
She comes to the mall to eat breakfast and shop on a weekly basis, sometimes two or three times a week. She sends a lot of cards to family and friends and usually shops at Hallmark for those cards.
“I am going to miss the store,” she said.
Mary Dries, Pottsville, looked at the storefront Tuesday morning after arriving to buy a card. She was also unaware it was closing until seeing the poster board blocking the view into the store.
“This place had a great selection,” she said.
Dries was a loyal customer for more than 20 years, and likely will go to Boscov’s for cards now. She said customers were treated like family.
“They were always nice. I will miss that store,” she said.