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The business will begin moving out of its space on Columbia Street on Nov. 28, and its last day in business is Nov. 30, said Richard Brotherton, who opened the business with his wife, Jen, in July 2007.
Richard Brotherton said the business is closing for all the usual reasons: fewer customers, customers spending less money and a local economy that has been affected by state budget cuts.
“I think they are very scared now,” he said about the dampening effect of state budget cuts on state workers.
But rather than wait to close the business, Brotherton decided to do it now to make sure that all suppliers will be paid and that clients will get their jobs finished and be looked after, he said.
“We didn’t want to lock the door one night and never come back,” Brotherton said.
The business opened in July 2007 – about the time the recession began – but it wasn’t until about mid-2010 that things began to slow. Looking ahead to 2012, and not forecasting an improvement, Brotherton decided to “quit while we’re still a little ahead,” he said.
At its peak, the business had about six employees, including Jon Donze, who had been the face of the business for the past six months. Business had slowed to the point where Brotherton had to find another job with Windfall Lumber in Tumwater, working as an architectural sales representative.
He praised Donze as a key employee who had been a fundamental part of the business.
“He’s going to be looking for a new career path,” Brotherton said.
Many were sad to hear the business was closing, including one customer who visited the store Monday in tears, he said. He also sent an email to about 50 clients, many of whom responded with disappointment.
One of its customers was Scott Homes of Olympia, a custom home-building business that builds “green” energy-efficient homes. President Scott Bergford said many of his clients shopped at the store to complete their interior design plans. “I think it’s kind of sad,” Bergford said about 510 Interiors, adding that the slower economy has killed off several good companies. “They filled a niche in our community.”
He also said it was not a fault of 510 Interiors, but the fact that the construction industry still is in recession. “There are other flooring companies that sell green products, but 510 specialized in it, and it was good that we had them in the community,” Bergford said.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403 rboone@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/bizblog
