'Another causality of online shopping,' fan cries as retailer will close location after 15 years and 50% off sales | I01SE7I | 2024-05-05 17:08:01
A POPULAR retailer has announced it will close for good this month as fans blame online shopping.
Customers only have days to take advantage of liquidation deals before the 15-year-old location shuts down.
The closing store, Hobbytown USA, will affect residents of Tallahassee Florida, per the Tallahassee Democrat.
With an official final date of operation set for May 5, shoppers must act fast to get discounts as high as 50% on some merchandise.
Some fans of the toy store chain are devastated by the news, blaming an uptick in e-commerce as a supposed reason behind the Tallahassee closure.
"Another causality of online shopping," they fumed in a post on Facebook.
Another added that they were "very sad" about the shutdown.
Someone else remarked that they "didn't even know any of them were left anymore."
Hobbytown is a franchise retailer with about 100 locations nationwide.
The closing store at 1812 Thomasville Road was bought by owners and US Navy veterans Vanessa and Michael Brodhead in 2014.
When the coronavirus pandemic severely impacted in-person shopping in 2020, the couple attempted to sell Hobbytown but didn't get satisfactory offers.
Sales also started to improve for a period, given the store's indoor games, including puzzles and other activities, became increasingly popular during lockdowns.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> Years later, the Broadhead family said they're still trying to get rid of Hobbytown and make a change.
MOVING ON
"We've been doing this for 15 years now…" Vanessa told the Tallahassee Democrat.
"Retail is not the same as it had been all of those years ago."
The closing Hobbytown is not only offering sales on all its merchandise, including toy airplanes, boats, drones, and helicopters.
Store fixtures, including furniture and display cases, will also be available to purchase.
There will be no remaining Hobbytown stores in the city after May 5.
Three others remain in The Sunshine State.
They are all located in and around Clearwater and Tampa.
For more related content, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage of a beloved grocery store closing after 28 years.
The U.S. Sun also has the story on a sporting goods outlet that confirmed liquidation sale plans after over 45 years in business.
More >> https://ift.tt/0bKrJQk Source: MAG NEWS
