Customers of the Carlton Cards store in Bower Place Shopping Centre will soon have to look elsewhere for that special greeting.
The long-time mall retailer is closing for good this Saturday, confirmed Lori Irion, the store’s assistant manager. Merchandise is currently being liquidated, she added.
“We’re selling it really cheap.”
Irion said the store’s staff, which number approximately a half dozen, were told of the pending closure in March. They will continue working until the end of this month.
The store had a loyal following of customers, said Irion.
“I’ve had a lot of people who are disappointed that we’re closing.”
Ken Rendina, chief operating officer of Schurman Retail Group — the California-based parent company of Carlton Cards — said the decision was not made by his company.
“It was not our choice to close it, but the landlord wanted another use.”
Bower Place Shopping Centre general manager John Rooke, who has only been in his position since last week, said on Tuesday that Carlton Cards’ lease was expiring and not being renewed. He also said that he had nothing to announce regarding a new tenant for the premises.
Carlton Cards products are carried by other retailers in Red Deer. Rendina said that merchandise from the Bower Place Shopping Centre store that is not sold will be transferred to other Carlton Cards stores.