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Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

I was disappointed to hear the news last week that Albert Lea’s toy store, Whimzy, will close its doors in the middle of November after being a highlight for many, young and old alike.

We’ve purchased many gifts for our son, Landon, there over the years for birthdays and Christmas gifts. His two favorite toys are trains and play food, and Whimzy has an awesome selection of play food.

Landon has played with the food we bought from there for many years now, and the toys are holding on — and likely still have many more good years of play left in them.

When I posted the story that Whimzy would be closing its doors, I wasn’t surprised to hear the many others who were sad to hear the news. The store was a magical one, and Albert Lea was lucky to have it for as long as we did.

What I was disappointed to read in the comments, though, was the people who said they had lived in the city for many years, if not all of their lives, and they didn’t know the store existed.

For a moment, the thought crossed my mind, “I wonder if the store could have stayed open if all the people who didn’t know about it before started shopping there?

The co-owner I spoke with said it had been getting more and more difficult over the last few years, to the point that he and his wife were paying for many things for the store out of their own pocket.

The expenses were outweighing the revenue.

I was surprised and disappointed to also hear him say that they believe that many people’s buying habits have changed in the last few years so that more and more people are going out of town for their shopping trips, noting the number of people who had stopped into their second store in Lakeville while they were in the Twin Cities shopping.

Interestingly enough, he said they weren’t worried so much about online shopping.

It’s disappointing to hear these things — to hear that people who have been here for many years don’t know of all the great things Albert Lea has to offer. It’s also equally as disappointing that many people are spending their money outside of Albert Lea and then going online and complaining that the city doesn’t have more retail to offer.

I challenge everyone to remember this store as you think about where to shop this upcoming Christmas holiday.

Before traveling to Rochester or Mankato or the Twin Cities, do a little more research about what we have to offer here in our own community.

I think you might be surprised to find out what is here.

These are your friends and neighbors trying to make a living and who are paying wages to other community members for jobs.

Remember if we don’t support what is here, there will be more stores at some point that won’t make it.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Wednesday.