(Photo: Google Maps)
Oct. 8, 2018 By Tara Law
The Austin Street Hallmark store is closing after 87 years in business due to high rents, the owner confirmed today.
Hallmark Card and Gift, which has been at 71-41 Austin St. since 1931, will close in late November or early December, owner Mike Patel said. The Hallmark store offers greeting cards, toys, small gifts, Christmas decorations and other items.
Patel took over the store 22 years ago, and he plans to retire once it is closed. He celebrated his store’s 20-year anniversary in 2016.
Patel declined to state the cost of the current rent, but said that it keeps climbing.
“Every year, rent more and more,” Patel said. Closing the store, he said, feels “Very bad, but I have no choice.”
Patel said that he plans to offer a 25 percent to 75 percent discount on the store’s remaining goods. The store still has many cards, toys and picture frames, Patel said.
Patel said that he will try not to close the store until most of the merchandise is gone, but that he plans to close the shop by Christmas.
