Three years later, shop closes its doors

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

It was an emotional day for seniors, AgeCare Sagewood staff, and shop employees last week, as the Tuck Shop members clocked their final hours before closing down the store that provided Strathmore seniors with additional purchasing options for the past three years.
May 31 officially marked the store’s closure, when owner Debbie Mitzner decided not to renew the lease.
“We are no longer able to have a working relationship with AgeCare,” said Mitzner. “It’s not because we don’t like the seniors or we don’t want to be there. We were open seven days a week for 365 days a year for three years. Staff and residents are disappointed and heartbroken.”
The Tuck Shop offered residents living in the Strathmore seniors’ community the opportunity to purchase items ranging from snacks to gifts to local products. In a statement to the Strathmore Times, AgeCare recognized the void left behind with the store’s departure and is seeking other options for the residents to enjoy the same luxuries.
“The owner of the Tuck Shop located at AgeCare Sagewood chose to not renew their lease … and we would like to thank the Tuck Shop’s owner for being a part of the AgeCare Sagewood community since the opening of phase II in the fall of 2013,” the statement read. “While we explore opportunities for the use of the vacated space, the community will continue to offer programs that provide snacks to the residents, host vendors who bring in their products such as clothing and speciality gifts, in addition to the onside vending machines for snacks and beverages.”
According to Mitzner it was an emotional goodbye for some of the residents when the store closed its doors for good last week.