MOLINE, Ill. — A staple location of downtown Moline is saying farewell.
WaterMark Corners is closing after nearly 25 years of business in the same spot on 1500 River Drive near the John Deere Pavilion and Vibrant Arena.
"When we reopened and started our closing sale ... the outpouring, instantly the store was full with people," owner Amy Trimble said. "Everyone that comes in shares stories of how we've impacted their lives through Christmas gifts, through wedding invitations, through birth announcements, through memorial cards that we printed with our stationery."
Trimble said it's time to close the doors so the family can focus on running Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory.
"As our parents are wanting to back down and nearing retirement ... it's time for us to refocus our energies," Trimble said.
Trimble said her family is working with the City of Moline to bring a new small business in, so the city doesn't lose out on economic opportunity.
"We are keeping ownership of the buildings, and we're going to work with the city on finding the perfect tenant to go in here. It is one of the prime retail spaces definitely in Moline, if not the whole Quad Cities," Trimble said.
The city's economic development team is working with a new retail consultant as part of their continuing efforts to revitalize downtown Moline.
"They go to trade shows in Chicago, they go to trade shows in Las Vegas, and they represent the city and specifically represent sites that are available. Properties that are open, businesses that are open. So that'll be something that we'll do for WaterMark Corners as well," community and economic development director Chris Mathias said.
For some it may be a bittersweet farewell, but Trimble said she's keeping a positive outlook. "We're making it a celebration. It truly is a celebration of 25 years as part of the Moline and the Quad City community," she said.
WaterMark Corners will be open until late January or early February, or until everything is sold.
The store is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's open later on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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