Stuff Etc closing C.R. west store

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Stuff Etc will be closing its store in southwest Cedar Rapids on July 31, merging it with the company's east side location.

In a statement issued Thursday by the Coralville-based consignment merchandise business, Stuff Etc Owner Mary Sundblad said the decision to close the store at 3750 Williams Blvd. SW will affect 24 employees. The store was the first Cedar Rapids location for the company.

Sundblad said Stuff Etc is attempting to place as many as possible at its 252 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE location and other nearby stores.

"Our company continually evaluates its stores, identifying opportunities to strengthen our overall business," Sundblad said. "This is a decision we reluctantly make because of its impact on our employees and customers.

"The Cedar Rapids west side area has never provided the opportunity we had expected and in this highly competitive and difficult retail environment, the merger allows our company to focus on long-term growth. We will continue to open new Stuff Etc franchise locations in communities where we believe we can operate successfully.

"Our newest location will be opening this fall in Davenport."

Sundblad said final clearance sales will begin this weekend at the Williams Boulevard SW store and run throughout the month of July. She added that the 33,000-square-foot store on Blairs Ferry Road NE will provide a more expansive selection of merchandise and traffic for consignors.

Stuff Etc opened the Williams Boulevard SW store in April 2003. The store is located in 22,000 square feet of the 96,000-square-foot former Target store near Westdale Mall. The remainder of the building has been leased by Harbor Freight Tools and Options of Linn County.

Options of Linn County, which was displaced when its building was significantly damaged by the June 2008 flood, will be moving this fall to Linn County's Community Services Building at Sixth Avenue Court and 12th Street SW.