Worth Repeating Furniture will close its doors at the end of the month, although the owners said it is not a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris Sours, who co-owns the store with his wife Sue, said the couple has been considering closing the store since prior to the pandemic.
He said the two both work full-time jobs and Worth Repeating, located at 116 S. Maple Street, is a “hobby or side gig.” Even so, Sours said it can consume much of their time.
After his wife’s mother passed away following a battle against cancer, he said they decided to invest more time in family rather than the business.
“We wanted to step back and reprioritize,” Sours said.
But, he said it was a difficult decision to close the business.
“As much as we love Worth Repeating Furniture, our fantastic staff and wonderful customers, it was just the right time for us,” Sours wrote in a statement.
Sours said becoming owners of the store was a great “personality fit” from the start.
He and his wife both enjoy the “treasure hunting” aspect of shopping and frequently attend auctions and estate sales.
They learned the previous owner of the business planned to sell the store around Thanksgiving 2014 and quickly expressed interest. After meeting with her and talking through the details, they settled on becoming the new owners.
He said it felt “safer” to take over the existing store because it already had a strong base of consignors. Sours said he was also intrigued by the business model.
Worth Repeating used a unique pricing system, Sours said, in which the starting price reduces over an 11-week period of time.
He said customers enjoyed being able to gamble on whether a piece they liked would still be available once the price dropped.
“It’s a neat game you can play,” Sours said.
The Sours have owned the store – using the same business model – since Jan. 1, 2015.
He said the most rewarding part of the business was building relationships with the store employees.
Sours noted that two of the associates, Cathy and Cindy, have been with the business since they took over almost six years ago.
“They’re as important as anything we have in the store for sale,” he said.
Sours said he and his wife are also grateful for customers who have patronized the store. He said they have especially enjoyed sharing their “Sunday Snapshots” on social media to discuss new items at Worth Repeating.
He said the store stopped accepting consigned items on Dec. 1. The store will remain open during regular hours until Dec. 22.
Any consignors who have balances due can stop by the store until Dec. 22 to pick up their funds.
Before the store’s final closure, Sours said it will host an ‘indoor garage sale’ the week after Christmas. Any remaining items and store fixtures will be sold.
Details regarding the event have not been determined and will be posted on social media closer to the end of the month, Sours said.