Chapter Closing On Another Downtown Business Icon
First there was news that Downtown landmark retailer Surplus City would close.Then the Links announced their retirement sale. Now a third shoe is falling.
Local favorite Frank’s Liquor and Superette, a fixture Downtown since 1964 will change hands late this month. The friendly neighborhood store where they really did know your name is located on the corner of Willis and Murray. The place that is a favorite pit stop for Times Delta employees on break was founded by Frank Lovero Sr who passed away in April 2013. Now son Frank Lovero Jr is selling the business to a group led by George Kassab from Porterville. The bulk sale is expected to be complete January 23.
Frank Jr says he feels like he “has worked 8 days a week” for years and is ready to retire.He says it has been hard to hang on as independent operator with all the chains noting that the buyers of the Visalia store already have 19 other locations.’”It been the great selection we have here that has helped us.”And good advice on wine selection too. Frank says staff at the store will stay employed.
Luncheon Will Showcase Visalia Office Building
With some 75,000 square feet of Class A office space available in what is known as the Cigna building – the owner of the property – the Weingart Foundation plans to host a luncheon January 22 at the building on corner of Tulare and Akers. Local realtor Doug Burr says the space is the largest of its kind in the Central Valley. The Weingart Foundation is big supporter of non-profits that help the poor in southern California. With assets of $718 million, the foundation has authorized grants totaling over $900 million over years.
Founder Ben Weingart’s life began in poverty, but when be died in December 1980, his Southern California real estate holdings were comprised mostly of hotels, shopping centers and apartment buildings worth many millions of dollars. He probably was best known as the man who led the multimillion-dollar venture that created a new town, the City of Lakewood, on what previously were sugar-beet and bean fields.
Express/Hallmark To Open At Visalia Mall
Visalia Mall General Manager Richard Feder says they are in talks with a Hallmark corporate store to open in the same space being vacated by the Wright’s card store next month. In addition Feder says the mall has leased the 7,800SF space that now houses New York & Co – in the process of closing by the end of this month – to Express, Inc. The store advertises itself as an American fashion retailer that sells stylish clothing for men and women. The anticipated opening of the store is planned for 6/1/14. Express operates over 600 stores in the United States and generates $1.8 billion in annual sales. Express used to be in the mall in the 1990s says Feder when it was owned by Limited Brands. You may remember New York & Co used to be called Lerner.
March of the Dollar Stores continues across Tulare County with plans in the works for new stores in Strathmore and Pixley says county Economic Development Manager Mike Washam.