For months, all signs pointed to the closing of the Doneckers furniture store.
Deeper and deeper discounts. No more returns allowed. No more checks or Doneckers charge cards accepted.
Finally, it's official.
Doneckers said Wednesday its Fine Furniture Gallery will close at an unspecified date.
The number of employees affected and the size of the store were not immediately available.
The news follows the shutdown of Doneckers' restaurant on June 30 and the announcement Aug. 6 that its fashion store will close.
With the demise of those three ventures, the only surviving part of the Ephrata retailing conglomerate will be the Inns at Doneckers.
In a prepared statement, Doneckers said the furniture store "enjoyed years of success before falling victim to the current economic conditions and industry trends."
The furniture store is the youngest part of the North State Street retailing complex.
It opened in 1999 to anchor Doneckers' 10-year-old redevelopment of the former Fleet Air shoe factory into the Artworks complex for artists and small businesses.
In contrast, the restaurant and inns debuted in 1984. The fashion store, selling women's and men's clothing as well as home accessories, dates to 1961.
As it did when the closing of the fashion store was announced, Doneckers thanked its customers and employees "for their support and dedication over the years."
Doneckers also reiterated that the family could return in business in some way. It said, "Owner Bill Donecker continues to explore all options, along with his daughter, Melinda Donecker Beatty, and together it is their hope a new generation of Doneckers will emerge."
Staff writer Tim Mekeel can be reached at tmekeel@LNPnews.com or 481-6030.
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