The latest from ... 

Dear Friends of The Hitching Post ~
 

It is with great disappointment I announce The Hitching Post will not be moving back to its "home" at 190 Haven Street, due to unexpected costs imposed by the landlord to build out the space.

Over a year ago the M.F. Charles building renovation project began - a long overdue, much anticipated improvement to a historical building in the heart of our downtown. The Hitching Post, a tenant in the building since 1975, was forced to close its doors on March 22, 2013, the only tenant whose business was interrupted by the renovation. The furniture & fixtures were put in storage in anticipation of a return to 190 Haven in the fall of 2013. Extensive improvements The Hitching Post had made to the space in 2003 were removed, a necessity to allow for much needed upgrades to the building.

Over the summer The Hitching Post processed phone orders & made deliveries all over Reading & beyond. When it became apparent we would not be moving back to Haven Street in September, The Chocolate Truffle on Main Street offered us space to open a temporary shop for the holidays & until the move back to Haven Street. The Hitching Post will be forever grateful to Erin Calvo-Bacci for sharing her business space & creating the opportunity for us to connect with our customers once again.

January turned into April, & now The Hitching Post has been out of its location for over a year. The landlord recently informed The Hitching Post that it is responsible for finishing the space at 190 Haven Street. What does that mean? The Hitching Post would be required to incur the expense for installing the ceiling, lights, electrical wiring, HVAC ducts, sprinkler head installation, & flooring. In addition to the cost of increased rent, new signage, inventory, moving furniture & fixtures out of storage & assorted other moving & set up expenses, this is a significant cost for a small business that has seen reduced revenue for the last year. While Haven Properties is to be commended on the outstanding job they have done bringing the M.F. Charles building back to life, it is disappointing that this information was not communicated when The Hitching Post closed for the renovations in March 2013. Yes, the M.F. Charles building looks beautiful, but the cost to The Hitching Post has been extensive.

As a vital part of the Reading retail landscape for 52 years, The Hitching Post has seen many changes in Reading Center - the closing of several local independent businesses (Eugene's, Hersey Jewelers, The Children's Shop, Ken & El's Shoes, Katie's Hallmark, Hillside Florist, Case Drug, Berson's Pharmacy, the Atlantic), the completion of the downtown improvement project & the arrival of many new businesses. Through it all, The Hitching Post continued to provide quality giftware & greeting cards to the community while supporting numerous charitable organizations, schools, clubs, sports teams, & worthwhile causes: Reading Elder Services, Reading Library, EMARC, Sanborn Place, Reading Rotary, Reading Girl Scouts, Creative Arts, DKJ Foundation, Reading Historic Preservation Trust, Reading Community Singers, Young Women's League, Austin Prep, Reading Food Pantry & the list goes on. The Hitching Post is a founding member of the annual holiday event 'Shop the Block', & an active member of the Reading North Reading Chamber of Commerce. We have raised over $180,000 for the Friends of Mel Foundation & thousands of dollars for Diane's Pen Pals in the fight against cancer.

Despite this setback, The Hitching Post will continue to be a vital member of the Reading community in its current location with The Chocolate Truffle at 494 Main Street. It will continue to feature local artisans, items made in America & independent greeting card companies. Your continued support by shopping with us is most appreciated as we move towards a positive future!

Sincerely,Buy Local logo

Leslie Leahy

The Hitching Post Gift Shop

494 Main Street

Reading, MA 01867

781.944.9224

www.hitchingpostgifts.com 

 

Like us on Facebook Find us on Pinterest