Those who regularly shop up and down Main Street will soon lose a familiar store. Thomas & Ellen, known for unique gifts, fashion and items for the home, is preparing to close for good. Many residents walked through the store because they saw clearance signs on the window, while others wanted to shop there one last time.
“It was the place to go when you want to get a nice gift,” said Joanne Deturris. “We don’t have a lot of retail stores in Farmingdale anymore, so it’s going to leave a hole on Main Street.”
“It’s a variety store, and it was the best in the area,” said resident Terry Sands. “It’s really upsetting to know that I can’t shop at Thomas & Ellen anymore. I loved shopping there opposed to a mall because it’s a smaller shop with many options on Main Street.”
Elizabeth Mignone, president of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce said, “I’m very upset to see the store close. When they opened, I was excited to see something new on Main Street.”
Ellen Johansen, the store owner, was unavailable to comment about her store which is expected to close this week. During Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30, 2013 she celebrated the store’s grand opening, and she was excited to introduce residents to what it had to offer saying, “We try to offer services that larger businesses just don’t offer. We gift wrap merchandise, we walk people to items and explain them, and we have something for everyone.”
The clearance signs on the window attracted a few new customers to the store including Alana Karabelas who loved what she saw.
“I wanted everything,” she said. “I grew up upstate, and stores like Thomas & Ellen were common there. You don’t come across many stores like that anymore.”
Rickie Nicolo purchased picture frames for his home. “I was never in the store before, and I lived here for 17 years,” he said. “I never noticed it was so big. It had everything from a phone charger to Christmas lights.”
Regardless of how people felt about the store, many hope it doesn’t sit empty for a long time.
“I didn’t go to Thomas & Ellen often, and I hope it doesn’t leave an empty space when the store closes. There is so much in the town, and I wonder what it’s going to be replaced with,” said Connie Gunn.
Kayla Jiminez, who works at Subway near Thomas & Ellen said, “I didn’t go there that often. I don’t really remember much about them.” When asked if she was disappointed by their closing, she said “No, but I hope that they get another store there soon.”
Mayor Ralph Ekstrand explained that the village will be glad to work with the landlord to find a new tenant for the empty store. He said, “I’m saddened when a business has to close its doors, but I believe when one door closes another opens.”
—Additional reporting by Kimberly Dijkstra
