Last edited 12:06 p.m., June 22, 2012Downtown clothing boutique Staxx is planning an August move to south Springfield, but not because owner Meghan Chambers wanted to relocate.
Chambers said the owner of the 331 South Avenue building, former Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson, notified her about two months ago about new plans for the building, where Staxx occupies 2,100 square feet.
"I have a very heavy heart leaving downtown. It has nothing to do with that area," Chambers said. "I really have thoroughly enjoyed downtown, so I am very sad about leaving the area where we are."
During the morning of June 22, Carlson told Springfield Business Journal he is in the process of negotiating the sale of the downtown property.
"The new owner would need the space that (Chambers) has," Carlson said, declining to name the buyer or financial terms. The 2012 appraised value of the property is $474,200, according to the Greene County assessor's
Web site.
Carlson, who operates Mid America Management out of the building with business partner Mark Gardner, said he would become a tenant of the buyer upon the sale. Carlson said his reasoning for selling the building is financial in nature.
"I had a good price," he said.
Chambers said she searched for another center city location but was unable to find a suitable facility before having to leave the store's current site.
"Time was not on our side in this decision. I had to move at the best time for our business," Chambers said.
Chambers last week signed a lease with Ross Murray of R.B. Murray Co. for more than 3,400 square feet in the French Quarter shopping center on East Republic Road. Chambers declined to disclose terms of the lease.
"We're very excited for what the future holds for us. The location that came up is most suitable for our needs," she said, noting the increased space would allow the store to have four dressing rooms and to carry additional lines of clothing.
Chambers said Staxx would be moving to the 1632 E. Republic Road location after Aug. 1, and the apparel store would continue to operate out of its downtown storefront until the move.
Chambers said Staxx, which opened in March 2004, has been picking up in business, though she declined to disclose revenues.
"That's why I didn't really want to shake anything up with our move because of our business doing well," she said. "I couldn't be more thankful for downtown because this is where we were born and raised.
"We hope it's a smooth transition for everyone."[[In-content Ad]]
