Angel Investor Saves Southlake Toy Store
Store will soon reopen for business
By LINDSAY WILCOX and GREG JANDA
Updated 3:34 PM CST, Fri, Aug 7, 2009
After seven-and-a-half years in business, the Owl's Nest in the Southlake Town Center had fallen on hard times. Feeling the pinch of the economy, Sandy Challinor, the owner, fell behind on her rent and was faced with closing the business.
Last weekend the store had a clearance sale to liquidate the merchandise, fixtures and displays in the shop. Saturday brought lines of customers that stretched out the door -- all waiting to buy what they thought would be the last item they could get at the locally-owned toy store.
We were there on Sunday, where the shelves that used to hold Melissa and Doug wooden toys were literally being taken down as customers tried to find clearance deals. (Full disclosure: we nearly bought a Radio Flyer tricycle for half-price)
More than once, we heard people lament, "We're so sad to see you close."
But later on Sunday, Challinor said a miracle swooped in to save the day.
"It was a loyal customer who called me and said, 'You just can't close that store up. I love your store,'" said Challinor.
The angel investor helped Challinor renegotiate her lease, but there is still more to do before the shop can reopen -- like buying new fixtures and displays.
She said she hopes to reopen for business in a couple of weeks, and speaking for at least one family, we'll be glad to see them return.
First Published: Aug 6, 2009 11:57 AM CST
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