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April 18, 2006
Artist & Craftsman pulling out
The San Jose Merc reported that Artist & Craftsman Supply is giving up it's downtown location after three years. We are sad to see them go. In their first months they had partnered with Phantom Galleries in marketing efforts and it seemed to work... when they first opened up they had a record store opening of any of their other locations. But as the store changed managers,
we heard from many artists that they were less and less friendly and not as competitive price-wise (fewer discounts).
On the other hand, it does not seem unreasonable to ask the Redevelopment Agency for a 10-15% reduction in rent to keep a viable and much needed retail store here in the downtown core, especially when the promise of surrounding tenants has gone unfulfilled. (What's the other option? Yet another restaurant?! Another bar/club/ultra lounge? UUUgghh.)
I doubt there's any saving A&C, they've already made it clear that they want out of San Jose, and RDA probably doesn't appreciate the media spotlight on the situation so they will make no effort to concede. A&C will go about their business in other cities, and RDA will go about their business of building... well, buildings instead of communities. We're the only ones that lose in all of this.
Posted by Cherri at April 18, 2006 12:30 PM
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Comments
I cannot believe this news! I just shopped there today. As an art and design student, I remember when they first opened. It was a pleasure to shop at a conveniently located store close to campus, other than SJSU's bookstore. They had great prices and the workers were really friendly. The rest of the art stores in San Jose are kinda far for me and not as competitive Does anyone know of any other arts and crafts stores in San Jose?
Posted by: michael Huen at April 18, 2006 07:38 PM
I don't know of any other than University Art on Meridian....and from conversations with other artists, they seem to be turning more to the "hobbyists" (scrapbooking, etc). It makes no sense that we can't have an art store a block from a major university!
Was it that students just didn't know they were there? Or they shopped somewhere else?
Posted by: Cherri at April 18, 2006 08:10 PM
This sucks!!
Posted by: bella at April 19, 2006 10:26 AM
oh, yes, one more thing... i went in on monday, and word has it that they have until Oct. 1st... so I suspect they will be shutting down by mid- sept... -_- we need to get another art store somewhere in DT San Jose... Any ideas? Anyone??
Posted by: Bella at May 10, 2006 01:44 PM