Rogers Department Store Closing

WYOMING — Employees of Rogers Department Store this morning were told that the upscale clothing store will be closing.

Grand Rapids Business Journal will continue to follow this story throughout the day on its Web site, grbj.com

The announcement caught many in the business community by surprise.

Jeanne Englehart, president of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, said she was “floored” by the news this morning.

“As the chamber we are always sad to see a local, a family-owned business discontinue operations. But we are encouraged by the fact that they will continue operation in (Grand Rapids) Township,” she said, referring to Daniel’s, a high-end clothing store also owned by Daniel Hurwitz and family in the Terrazzo shopping center on East Paris Avenue. “We understand the changing dynamics of this community; shopping centers like RiverTown have changed the way that people shop now, and there have been changes in traffic patterns along

28th Street

.”

The chamber was a big supporter of the “Shop Outside the Box” campaign, Englehart said, because it’s important to support local stores if the business community is to thrive.

“Still, 50 years is an incredible track record; they’ve done much for this community,” she added. “(It) breaks your heart.”