Pierce County business to close after 40 years. It’s been a community hub
Owner Adrian Taylor said Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop employees learned last week the store will close after four decades in Bonney Lake.
Taylor told The News Tribune that he is not renewing the lease for the Bonney Lake store, which will expire Feb. 28, 2027. Customers can expect a Ben Franklin-style grand closing sale that will be “exceptional,” he said. The craft shop, located at 21121 state Route 410, sells crafting supplies, floral arrangements, home decor, kids toys and more, according to its website. The store also has a frame shop inside and a coffee shop next door, Ben’s Espresso.
Taylor said the frame shop will move to a brick and mortar store a block away on 214th Avenue likely in the beginning of 2027. He hasn’t decided what will happen to Ben’s Espresso.
The craft store is part of a larger franchise with locations across the county, including a second store that Taylor owns in Monroe. His parents owned the Monroe store before he got into the business as the owner in Bonney Lake. Taylor said the Monroe location has been around for 51 years, while the Bonney Lake store began about 40 years ago in November 1986. He said the Monroe location will stay open. He owns that building.
Taylor said there are several reasons for why the Bonney Lake store will close, including expenses.
“I am second generation in the business,” he said. “I turned 65 this year, not that I intend to retire at 65, but the idea is, ‘Do I want to wait until I’m 70? Do I want to be as busy as I am today until I’m 70?’ And the answer to that was no.”
Taylor said financially, the business is not in a place where he could sell it.
“There wasn’t enough here that, in terms of a return on investment, that it would make sense for an investor, so that became my reality,” Taylor said. “I talked to the landlord, and I can say the landlord has always treated us as an anchor tenant, meaning that anchor tenants have different lease terms ... so we’ve always been respected in that process.”
The landlord of the store has offered him favorable rates, but they are still market rents rates, which are going up, he said. The rent in February would have been an increase.
Over the last five years business costs have continued to increase, according to Taylor. This includes insurance, benefits and taxes.
“But it’s really the regulation in the state of Washington that puts us in a really hard spot,” Taylor said. “The labor part of what we do has been the most precious part, but you know, you look at the state’s pursuit of living wages ... should that apply to a high school student? So it’s a big ethical question ... each person has a different answer.”
Taylor said it’s not just wages, but other factors such as taxes that make it difficult to operate.
“If we didn’t have that — putting pressure on the profitability or return on investment in the store — then we would have had something that could have been passed on, but it’s just not possible,” Taylor said.
‘A void in Bonney Lake’
On June 7, an anonymous individual created an online petition to “Save Ben Franklin in Bonney Lake.” The change.org petition coincided with an Instagram account created for the same purpose.
“For years, this beloved store has been more than just a place to shop — it’s been a gathering spot, a place for inspiration, and a supportive hub for local artisans and hobbyists. The closure of Ben Franklin threatens to leave a void in Bonney Lake that cannot easily be filled,” the description of the petition said.
The petition describes the store as a cornerstone of the Bonney Lake community that fosters creativity and supports local talent.
“Unfortunately, the challenges of today’s economic climate have put this store under threat. While online shopping continues to rise, it’s crucial to preserve physical stores like Ben Franklin that offer a personal touch and community experience that cannot be replicated virtually,” the petition said.
The petition asks for signatures to help encourage local authorities and stakeholders “to take action to ensure that Ben Franklin stays open to serve future generations of Bonney Lake residents.”
As of Friday afternoon, the petition had 823 verified signatures and the Instagram account has 574 followers. About 16 people have left comments, and there are 532 shares for the petition.
“Ben Franklin may be the only independent small retailer in Bonney Lake. The town is full of big box stores, chains, and nothing else. If this store leaves we are one step closer to having zero quality options in our community to shop for not only craft items but home decor as well,” one commenter wrote.
Taylor said he is the number one advocate for finding a way to keep the store open, but that it would require someone who can take that on and expect no return on their investment.
Taylor said he tried to figure out a solution. The business is part of his family’s legacy, and he doesn’t want it to close.
“I really exhausted every decision I could,” he said.
