Omaha's Elan to Close
June 15, 2009Elan Contemporary Furnishings in Omaha, Neb., closed last week after 37 years in business, the Omaha World-Herald reported on Saturday.
"Obviously it's been a difficult economy for us. And we're in our 60s and just decided it's time for us to close the store, kind of semi-retire in a way," Connie Stevenson, who owns the store with her husband, Gary, said in the report. "It's making us very sad, because we've always enjoyed our customers and our employees. When you don't have any kids, they become your kids."
The store, which employs 18, not including the Stevensons, had employed as many as 55 when it operated two stores five years ago.
The store will reopen Thursday to sell its remaining furniture, and no specific date has been set for the final shutdown.
"We have a massive amount of inventory and will run probably a two- to three-month inventory sale," Stevenson said. "It could take that long to reduce our inventory."
Stevenson said that store mailed letters Thursday to all customers with pending orders to assure them they'll receive the merchandise they purchased.
