Hey, remember the lovely feeling of renewal that swept across Olathe just days ago? Yes, those were truly the halcyon days of Olathe commerce — when all interested parties could say “The Great Mall of the Great Plains will be back, baby!” And it was! For, um, six days. Because people are already blowin’ that popsicle stand. Via the Star’s Dollars and Sense blog, with grammatical errors sic:
Noah’s Ark Gift Shoppe is relocating. The inspirational Christian book, cards, music and gift store has opened a new store in Town Square, 108 N. Clairborne Road, Olathe.
It will close in the Great Mall on Jan. 31 when its lease expires and is now having a clearance sale with items between 50-and-75 percent off.
The local owners said they wanted to work less hours and in the new location can close all day on Sundays and at 7 p.m. on other days as opposed to keeping regular mall hours.
The Dress Barn Outlet and Dress Barn Woman Outlet, a combo store, also recently closed in the center at Interstate 35 and 151st Street. The chain has eight other locations in Independence, Kansas City, Odessa, Olathe, Overland Park, and Shawnee.
Steve & Barry’s was scheduled to close by this Tuesday. But as of 11:30 a.m. Monday it had yet to open its doors so it may already be closed.
Should we be worried that a store called “Noah’s Ark Gift Shoppe” is pulling out of the area? Shouldn’t we be taking this as some sort of antediluvian omen? If we see them loading their Christian knickknacks two by two into their station wagon, we’re heading for higher ground.
