Memories for the Making is going out of business.
Owner Nicole Lemmerhirt said a lot of factors went into the closing, including the lingering effects of the recession as people continue to look hard at discretionary spending.
The scrapbook industry, once a booming cottage industry, has been one of the areas hit hard by a changing economic landscape as people changed spending habits and what they did with their time. In some cases electronic versions no doubt took a toll and more big box stores also began carrying scrapbook inventory. Just this month, Ahni & Zoe - formerly known as Creative Memories, the St. Cloud-based scapbooking company - announced it was shuttering its operations in North America.
Lemmerhirt purchased the business in 2012 and added those duties to her existing hair salon A-cute Accents Salon. With a lease up, Lemmerhirt said she and her husband did all they could do to bring in customers but it was time to let the business go.
"I don't know my next chaper I have to get through this page before I make the next page," she said. The plan is to continue store operations through Aug. 16 but that will depend on how fast the inventory goes. Almost everything, including fixtures, cabinets and displays are for sale.
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Lemmerhirt said it has been kind of frustrating to see customers come in now to buy things during the close-out sale knowing if they had been shoppers before, the store would still be in business.
Lemmerhirt said now her priorities need to be focused on her family.
"I've got two other jobs and not enough hours in my day," she said.
Pearl Vision is moving into new offices this fall with an updated interior and twice the space of the current offices.
The move isn't a great distance, but the changes are expected to be substantial.
Pearl Vision, a family owned business for some three decades, will move to 15674 Edgewood Drive in Baxter in October. The move takes the vision center from current offices at 15574 Edgewood Drive farther north to the Baxter Village, in the space that once housed the Kitchen Place.
Baxter's Pearl Vision will be the fifth in the nation with the new store design, a modern look with a neighborhood doctor focus. The design includes a fresh color scheme with off white walls, butter yellow and lime green accents. Pearl Vision describes the new store design as more boutique in style.
Gull Dam Brewing of Nisswa is getting closer to an opening day and beer brewing with construction work continuing on the tap room. The empty space is now filled with shiny metal for multiple fermentation tanks and brewing equipment.
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Downtown Brainerd businesses launched a webpage in a partnership with Visit Brainerd and the Brainerd and Baxter Minnesota Tourism Bureau.
The website is www.downtownbrainerd.net includes a photo gallery, video and business listing. There is information on downtown events, including Street Fest on 7th, which is this weekend, the Zombie Crawl and St. Patrick's Day parade.
In addition to hiring signs in many locations, a number of businesses are renovating including Wendy's restaurant on Washington Street in Brainerd. The dining room remains open during the work on the building.
