THE SHOP IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING IT! Here's the background: Well in early 2000 it was looking a lot like my stock options were about to become worth something. I thought, "After I quit my job I'll need something to do." I always thought owning a shop would be worthwhile. I think Pittsburgh shops often look like they're not making much money but then they stay in business forever. I figured once they get past the hump of the first few years they have it easy. I figured I'd make some nice chat with customers, and people would think I was cool. So I started looking around for good available locations and trying to imagine what was missing from the neighborhood the storefront was in. I've long thought Oakland had a surprising lack of new places year after year. I would think that with so many students going through Pitt and CMU every year, some would stick around the neighborhood after graduation and some of those people would try to start shops. This is true to a very small extent. I found a decent space a little off the beaten track but not much further than successful spots like Mad Mex, signed a lease, and started planning my shop. I thought Oakland needed a thrift store since Operatunity closed and I thought Crimes of Fashion was too pricey and crowded and not very well decorated or pleasant inside. I thought, instead of all vintage wear, I would also have some recent clothes, to differentiate me from the local competition. This is basically the concept at the Plato's Closet chain, though I didn't know of them at the time. I opened April 15, 2000 and tomorrow is the last day: July 21, 2001. It went fairly well and I may write more about it later but wanted to post this little memorial to the store. My daytime employer still hasn't gone public and my stock options are not salable and I can't bring myself to quit and try to run the store full time. I think if I had a freelance career that I could do from the store, I would not be closing it. I had fun setting up the store and doing the shopping. I met some great young people in Oakland, especially Rachel and her roomies who worked there and were so sweet. For those of you who never made it down to the store (if you live in Pittsburgh, wow are you lame), I may post some photos here soon. For those of you with a similar goal, I would be willing to go over the nitty gritty details with you sometime after I get my 2000 tax return done. Sigh. -Rich