The "Sad End Of The Journey" Story
It was a an ordinary day. Very sad, though! I got a call today from Amber Kline who told me that "The Tag Shop" was filing for bankruptcy. Amber is the daughter-in-law of my good friend Barry who died a couple of months ago. Barry started "The Tag Shop" about 10 years ago when he and his wife Mary Jo decided they wanted to get into retail sales. Barry had been a salesman all his life, and a very good one. They made a huge success of the business which was located between West King Street and Market Alley in Lancaster; located next to Central Market, one of the oldest farmer's markets in the United States. For years he has been voted "The Best Gift Shop" and "The Best Antique Shop" in Lancaster. He was first in a one room store and outgrew that in a year or two, then moved next door into the current building which fronts both streets; three times the room as the first store. Shortly after he opened he agreed to sell my Polaroid photos. I promised him he would be the only store in the area where I would have them. We both prospered with sales for many years. The past two years have been slow, but he still sold a few. Then ........ that sad day in December when I heard he had died. We had been friends since we were 8 years old. Now what?? I kind of knew. HE WAS A TRUE
SALESMAN!! I often told my wife that the shop would die if he would retire, close or die. And it did. I just returned from the shop with the photos that covered one large area of his store. Really sad standing there, talking with Amber about the closing. Amber and Matt, her husband and Barry and Mary Jo's son, are moving back to Oregon. Mary Jo is going with them. Maybe healing will take place better if she is with family and away from the sad memories of Lancaster. Time will tell! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
PS - top pix is front of store on King Street while bottom pix is rear on Market Alley.
It was a an ordinary day. Very sad, though! I got a call today from Amber Kline who told me that "The Tag Shop" was filing for bankruptcy. Amber is the daughter-in-law of my good friend Barry who died a couple of months ago. Barry started "The Tag Shop" about 10 years ago when he and his wife Mary Jo decided they wanted to get into retail sales. Barry had been a salesman all his life, and a very good one. They made a huge success of the business which was located between West King Street and Market Alley in Lancaster; located next to Central Market, one of the oldest farmer's markets in the United States. For years he has been voted "The Best Gift Shop" and "The Best Antique Shop" in Lancaster. He was first in a one room store and outgrew that in a year or two, then moved next door into the current building which fronts both streets; three times the room as the first store. Shortly after he opened he agreed to sell my Polaroid photos. I promised him he would be the only store in the area where I would have them. We both prospered with sales for many years. The past two years have been slow, but he still sold a few. Then ........ that sad day in December when I heard he had died. We had been friends since we were 8 years old. Now what?? I kind of knew. HE WAS A TRUE
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Bankruptcy is one news you never want to hear, especially from a dear friend of yours. That was really heartbreaking. I just hope everything has been settled smoothly and that they've all moved. I hope they are enjoying their life in Oregon. Thanks for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteStanley Erickson @ Bankruptcy Happens