In terms of the numbers of people employed the losses are small, but two Hagerstown retailers on the same road have chosen to close their doors by the end of the year.
"Obviously, the economy, but timing was very challenging for us," said Ted Bernstein, president and owner of Just Cabinets.
The company, based in Harrisburg, Pa., is closing the store it opened four years ago at 1580 Wesel Blvd., he said.
The other city shop that is closing is The Party Store by Paper Plus at 1344 Wesel Blvd.
"It's been wonderful. It's been a lot of fun, but we're ready to do something else," said Connie Leach, who owns the store along with her husband, Brian.
Just Cabinets has about six associates at its Hagerstown store. Bernstein said he hopes to keep them working at the chain's other stores in Frederick and Chambersburg, Pa.
The Party Store has four employees, but Connie Leach said they have all secured jobs for after the store closes.
Leach said she and her husband have chosen to retire and spend more time with children and grandchildren.
Another city business, this one downtown, also closed recently, according to the owner, Tina Lamke.
Lamke wrote in reply to a Facebook inquiry that she closed Paninis & Coffee Bar, 96 W. Washington St., because she "couldn't come to an agreement" with the landlord.
"I didn't want to close. I put a lot of hard work and all of (my) available funds into this," Lamke wrote. "I am trying to find another way to hopefully bring it back."
Just Cabinets has 20 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The Hagerstown store is just the second that Just Cabinets has closed in 30 years, Bernstein said.
"Consumer confidence is still not renewed and people and businesses are saving, not spending," he said.
"We are very sad to take this action. We really enjoy serving the communities we're in, and withdrawing from Hagerstown is something we really regret," Bernstein said.
While Just Cabinets is closing, another furniture retailer is preparing to move in across Wesel Boulevard, according to Timothy Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission.
Ashley Furniture HomeStore is renovating the former Lowe's store on Wesel Boulevard, preparing to move there from its Longmeadow Shopping Center location, Troxell said.
As for The Party Store, Connie Leach said: "This has been my career."
The couple bought the business in 2001, but she has worked for Paper Plus for more than a quarter of a century, back to when the business was on Pope Avenue, she said.
The store moved to Foxshire Plaza on the Dual Highway in 1991 and moved to Wesel Boulevard in 2010, Leach said.
The couple had been considering retirement before the move, but decided to give the new location a try, she said. In the end, they decided it was time to retire.
"It is sad .... I just think it's time for us," she said.
"Obviously, the economy, but timing was very challenging for us," said Ted Bernstein, president and owner of Just Cabinets.
The company, based in Harrisburg, Pa., is closing the store it opened four years ago at 1580 Wesel Blvd., he said.
The other city shop that is closing is The Party Store by Paper Plus at 1344 Wesel Blvd.
"It's been wonderful. It's been a lot of fun, but we're ready to do something else," said Connie Leach, who owns the store along with her husband, Brian.
Just Cabinets has about six associates at its Hagerstown store. Bernstein said he hopes to keep them working at the chain's other stores in Frederick and Chambersburg, Pa.
The Party Store has four employees, but Connie Leach said they have all secured jobs for after the store closes.
Leach said she and her husband have chosen to retire and spend more time with children and grandchildren.
Another city business, this one downtown, also closed recently, according to the owner, Tina Lamke.
Lamke wrote in reply to a Facebook inquiry that she closed Paninis & Coffee Bar, 96 W. Washington St., because she "couldn't come to an agreement" with the landlord.
"I didn't want to close. I put a lot of hard work and all of (my) available funds into this," Lamke wrote. "I am trying to find another way to hopefully bring it back."
Just Cabinets has 20 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The Hagerstown store is just the second that Just Cabinets has closed in 30 years, Bernstein said.
"Consumer confidence is still not renewed and people and businesses are saving, not spending," he said.
"We are very sad to take this action. We really enjoy serving the communities we're in, and withdrawing from Hagerstown is something we really regret," Bernstein said.
While Just Cabinets is closing, another furniture retailer is preparing to move in across Wesel Boulevard, according to Timothy Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission.
Ashley Furniture HomeStore is renovating the former Lowe's store on Wesel Boulevard, preparing to move there from its Longmeadow Shopping Center location, Troxell said.
As for The Party Store, Connie Leach said: "This has been my career."
The couple bought the business in 2001, but she has worked for Paper Plus for more than a quarter of a century, back to when the business was on Pope Avenue, she said.
The store moved to Foxshire Plaza on the Dual Highway in 1991 and moved to Wesel Boulevard in 2010, Leach said.
The couple had been considering retirement before the move, but decided to give the new location a try, she said. In the end, they decided it was time to retire.
"It is sad .... I just think it's time for us," she said.
