Tuesday, December 29, 2009

"After 152 years, Porters of Racine to close"

From the Journal Times:

"RACINE - A store with 152 years of history in Racine will soon be just that - a part of the city's history.

"Porters of Racine, the city's high-end furniture store at 301 Sixth St., will be closing.

"'The decision has been made,' Micah Waters, the vice president of Porters, said Tuesday.

"'Under this economy the high-end luxury market has been hit like we have never seen before.'"

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_095f2a90-f4e9-11de-9ef9-001cc4c002e0.html


I gasped, literally. I don't know why. Given the economy . . . , but still it surprised me. Reminds me of when Zahn's shut down. It's not good, not good for downtown, and not good for Racine.

I was sitting at the stoplight on 6th and Wisconsin the other evening when I noticed that the O and R in their sign are burnt out. Neon. Expensive to replace, I thought, especially trying to match the color of the others. Now they'll be dark permanently.

My condolences to the employees and the owners.

7 comments:

MinnesotaChick said...

That is sad....

Beejay said...

I used to love going to that store and just browsing....was a neat place...this is, indeed, sad...another landmark gone....

SER said...

Back when I was around 25 I went there to buy some furniture, not a lot just a couple pieces.

The woman who talked to me TOTALLY embarrassed me in front of other customers acting like was some poor white trash and should not have even came into the store.

I never have been back and if someone mentioned their name, I would “bad mouth” the store to the max!

So, I really don’t care if they are going out of business. Just another overpriced, ripping Racine people off store.

Sassa said...

I recently noticed when I read the obits for people in their 80's and 90's..as to where they worked growing up. THEY ARE ALL GONE. Now two businesses are leaving. We are going to become a ghost town with income only from tourists. Where have all the flowers gone?

kkdither said...

Wow, another icon of Racine leaving. As Dylan said, The times they are a-changing...

I've never been to the store myself. I never considered myself high-end enough either. I did go to their warehouse discount store at Elmwood Plaza. They treated me the same way SER mentioned... And the furniture was UGLY!

My cousin worked downtown. She always had the attitude that she was better than everyone else, so maybe it was the perfect employer for her?

I still feel bad for those who will find themselves unemployed at a terrible economic time. I'm sure they aren't all snobs.

OrbsCorbs said...

I never shopped there either, but I know someone who worked there a long time ago. Their closing is symbolic to me, I guess. That's almost a whole city block. They're gonna need something more than another coffeehouse or artsy fartsy shoppe to fill that space. But I'm sure that the cynical cronies who control our fate have something spectacular cooked up. They're wizards of the real estate and development games. Maybe we'll see a combination Christian bookseller tire-shredding gyro-selling gas station there. Just another opportunity for lying John to sew up some deals for his pals. Party on!

Anonymous said...

Old Navy is also leaving Racine.