Floice Mitchell has worked for the Hallmark store for 16 years. (Ryan Smith, RN-T.com)
The Hallmark store in Riverbend Shopping Center will be closing. (Ryan Smith, RN-T.com)
Floice Mitchell, 87, has worked at the gift and card shop for almost 16 years. “I’ve really enjoyed it. I hate to see it leave. It’s been a dose of medicine for me,” said Mitchell.
“Business is just slow at this location and we cannot afford the high rent,” said owner Vik Sheth. He bought the business back in 1994 and has seen it move from the old Riverbend Mall to Etowah Crossing Shopping Center and back to Riverbend Center.
Sheth will be closing the door sometime after Valentine’s Day.
Just last week, one of Alisha’s neighbors in Riverbend Center, Chico’s, revealed that it would be shutting down in January.
Most of the merchandise in the shop is expected to be transferred to the Mount Berry Square location, or to another co-owned shop in Kennesaw. Sheth said he plans a going out of business sale after the first of the year in an effort to clear merchandise.
Employees were notified of the impending closing on Christmas Eve. Some may have an opportunity to transfer to the Mount Berry Square location, but others, like Mitchell, say that’s just too long a drive from her home in the Wax community.
“I’ll just sit at home and rest awhile,” said Mitchell.
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