Joelle’s Hallmark Shop, which has been a fixture in downtown Clarendon Hills for 51 years, has closed permanently.
Carole Thoeming and her husband, Gerry, opened, owned and operated the store, and named it for their daughter Joelle, now Joelle Pigors.
The family posted a social media message shortly before the shop closed June 30 announcing of the closure and saying it left the owners with a “heavy heart.”
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for your loyalty and support over the past 51 years. Serving the Clarendon Hills community has been an absolute privilege,” the message stated.
Carole and Gerry Thoeming were not available to discuss the end of their business, and Pigors apologetically said she didn’t have time to elaborate on the closure because she’s been very busy with shutting the business down.
“I am getting a lot of questions from people on the street, and I really just don’t have any answers for anyone at the moment,” she said. “I am sure moving forward there will be decisions made and then there will be some good news to share. Right now we are just working on cleaning out 51 years of merchandise and supplies.”
Ed Cage, Clarendon Hills’ community development director, said he had no information about any plans for the storefront that has been occupied by Joelle’s Hallmark Shop at 6 S. Prospect Ave.
Village manager Paul Dalen, who grew up in Clarendon Hills, said he has fond memories of the shop.
“For me, the Hallmark was always a convenient and friendly place to shop,” he said. “The store always had an interesting array of items, which made it easy for me to pick up a Christmas or birthday gift.
“It is unfortunate the Hallmark store is closing after all of these years, but I guess all good things eventually come to an end.”
Carrie Tobin, who also grew in the village and has worked for the past 30-plus years at another downtown business, Zabler Design Jewelers, 26 S. Prospect Ave., which opened in 1984, said she is sad the Hallmark store no longer will be in town.
“They’ve been a fixture,” she said. “I really like small, family-owned businesses and appreciate small business owners.”
Karen Doehne, who has lived in Clarendon Hills for the past 11 years, said Joelle’s Hallmark Shop was a place many people went on a fairly regular basis.
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“I’ll miss the convenience of being able to pop in there,” she said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.