Two Local Boutiques Offering Closing Sales

Two local boutiques are offering deep sales this week as they prepare to close their shops, which sit across the street from each other on Route 47.

and are coordinating their closing sales. Phyllis Keller, who owns Vignettes with her husband, Dave, has started a new corporate job, while Blue Orchid Studio owner, Leslie Sabella, is moving to Vancouver, where her husband will attend school.

Everything in Vignettes is on sale, and all sales are final, Dave Keller said.

“That’s display cases, that’s furniture,” Dave Keller said. “I think the cash register even has a price on it.”

(Indeed, the cash register was tagged $100).

Owners of both businesses cited the poor economy as reasons for shutting their doors.

“It’s been a challenging time to be a small business owner,” said Sabella, who has run the shop for about 4 1/2 years.

Vignettes moved to its location off about a year ago after spending three years downtown at Van Emmon and Bridge streets. About 75 percent of the customers drove from outside Yorkville to shop there, Dave Keller said.

“[My wife] had a great customer base,” Dave Keller said. “It was just about 35 percent too small to keep her going.”

Dave Keller also said they thought city leaders were more focused on attracting and retaining large retailers through special incentives rather than helping small business owners. He pointed to sign permit fees as an example.

Vignettes increased its storewide discount to 50 percent Monday and plans to close Sunday.  Blue Orchid Studio is offering 40 percent off and will increase that to 50 percent Friday, with tentative plans to close April 1.

“If I need to stay longer, I’m going to,” Sabella said, adding she wants to sell as much merchandise as possible.

A real estate sign sits in front of Vignettes. But Sabella said her mother is exploring a few options before advertising the building that has housed Blue Orchid Studio for lease.