A school-supply store open in Tacoma since 1985 will close at the end of the month.
School Daze, a family-owned business, will shut its doors at 3630 S. Cedar St. on Jan. 31, co-owner Jerry England said. School Daze in Olympia, in Capital Village, will stay open. Online sales will continue as well.
“The economy just killed us,” England said. “We’ve tried to weather it, but we’re soaking more of our money into it and it’s not working.”
England owns the store with his wife, Wendy, whose parents started it in 1979. They focus on being a teacher-oriented store, with material designed for classrooms and to supplement standard curriculum. Beyond teachers, customers have included parents and people who work at preschools, day cares and churches. England said sales have been falling for some time, and that last year was their worst year for the back-to-school season.
kathleen.cooper@thenewstribune.com
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