01/05/2022
This is probably my final post, so I decided to make it entirely too long.
Because of our eighteen month COVID break, December 2020 was the first Christmas season in forty-eight years that I wasn't working in a retail store. (I must be old) The week before Christmas my retail body clock was evidently kicking in, I was pacing around the house and becoming even more of a nuisance to my wife than usual when finally she suggested (insisted) that I get the heck out of the house for a few hours and perhaps go to Target and straighten some shelves. For the last thirty-five years I've owned Wisconsin Craft Market, on Monday I straightened the shelves and locked the doors for the last time.
Marie and Deborah-Lee started with me on Day 1 when our Westgate store opened in 1990 and I was somehow lucky enough that both were still both working with me on the final weekend. In addition, my son-in-law Mark had just relocated to the Midwest and I convinced him to help, so they, along with Ketha, Anna, Heather, Dave, Mary Jo, Jocelyn, Karissa, all who worked at Westgate at times for many years, either came out of retirement or worked on their day off from their other jobs to help me finish our closing sale. I love these people and couldn't have done it without them. I wouldn't have wanted to do it without them. I'd also like to give a shout out to all of the people who had worked at our stores over the years, many who stopped in to visit the last two months and many more whose names I see pop up on these posts with comments or "likes". Kind, slightly quirky and creative people all.
The thing we all missed the most of course was you, our loyal, usually laughing and charmingly looney customers/friends. Because of the abrupt COVID closing at Westgate and the mall re-development we didn't get a chance to say goodbye and I feared after all this time that we might be largely forgotten. Not so much. One long-time customer walked in the door on the first day, saw me, and loudly proclaimed that she was so happy to see I was still alive. I was in complete agreement. It seemed that almost every one of you stopped in for a visit, some not even shopping but just stopping to catch up and shoot the breeze for a while. I spent so much time talking I almost didn't have time to get any work done which is no surprise to my staff. We can't thank you enough for all of the kind words, we'll never forget the conversations, the time you spent with us and your support all these years.
One of our favorite things over the years was when you would bring in your finished projects to show what you had created. Having been completely overlooked by whoever passes out the creative gene, I was/am in awe of your talent and as if to tie a neat little bow around these last three decades, one of my favorite knitters from the old store decided a few weeks ago to take up painting. Just this past Saturday she brought in her first work of art to show what she had created with supplies she had purchased from us. It was lovely and her stopping by to show us was the perfect ending to our thirty-five years.
One final story. Many years ago we made a decision to offer employment to adults with developmental disabilities and we were blessed to have several work for us over time. And then Christina arrived. I'm thrilled to report that Christina is now living independently but when she started with us she was sixteen, uncommunicative and had experienced a very tormented and heartbreaking childhood. She had a full-time aide with her and we were instructed to explain the tasks to her aide who would pass them on to Christina, and definitely avoid any physical contact or she could become violent. Remarkably, she ended up working for us part time for over twenty years until we closed at Westgate. Anyone who knows me well also knows that a no physical contact rule is a challenge for me. So slowly, over years, as she became much more comfortable with us and eventually, no longer requiring her aide, she became just one of our crew, birthday dinners, driving my boat (Yikes!) and getting hugs. She took to the hugs so well that she would often stop in the store even on her days off and yell at me if I didn't run over immediately to give her a hug. To this day when she introduces me to one of her friends she tells them that I was the first person she can remember that ever gave her a hug. If that was the only Wisconsin Craft Market memory of the million wonderful ones I have, it would be enough.
So that's it. If you ever see me at the Union Terrace having a beer or see some disoriented old guy straightening shelves in Target next Christmas, please say hello. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Paul
