An Unexpected Home Improvement Store Is Now Closing in Missouri

May 24, 2024

An unexpected home improvement store is now closing in Missouri after 40 years in business, prompting a fire 70% off sale.

Function Junction, which sells everything from grilling kits to espresso machines, is giving customers between 20%-70% off all products until the end of June.

The homeware store first opened in Kansas City in 1977.

Mary Merola, founder of the store, was 23 when she and Steve Eberman decided to begin selling hard-to-find utensils and other cookware, The Kansas City Star reported.

“I tried to find companies that really (had) that creative vibe and were not in the broadest distribution,” she said.

Since it first opened, the specialty home goods store rapidly expanded to a total of 17 stores across Missouri.

Despite the initial success of the business, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1998, reports The US Sun.

After filing for bankruptcy, Function Junction took time to downsize and reorganize.

By 2008, all but one location closed down.

Eberman eventually left the business, leaving Mary Merola now owning the store with her wife Rebecca Merola.

“These decades were more than introducing the newest, most innovative kitchen tools and cookware,” said Merola.

“It has been a privilege to forge friendships and long-term relationships with customers.”

“I know many by name, and we share memories each time we meet.”

The store will officially close its doors on June 30.

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Also Read: An Unexpected Retailer Is Now Closing All Stores in Illinois

Other Economy News Today

An unexpected restaurant now abruptly closes 7 locations in one state after revealing plans to shutter a total of 36.

TGI Fridays is closing a total of seven restaurants in one state as part of the company’s ongoing growth strategy.

This comes after the chain abruptly closed 36 locations across 12 states in at the beginning of the year, per The-Sun.

The restaurant chain will pull the plug on seven locations across the state of New Jersey in the coming weeks.

Today, Fridays will welcome in famished diners at its location in Brick for the final time.

“As we continue along our path of transformation to revitalize the Fridays brand and implement a long-term growth strategy, we see a bright future for TGI Fridays,” said Weldon Spangler, CEO of TGI Fridays earlier this week.

“We are at the helm of a pivotal moment that will allow us to explore boundless advancement, expansion, and innovation to keep delivering ‘That Fridays Feeling’ that our fans know and love.”

Before the closures, TGI Fridays had about 270 US locations, according to the company’s website.

“As part of the store closures, TGI Fridays is offering more than 1,000 transfer opportunities, which represents over 80% of total impacted employees,” the company previously said in a statement.

“Our top priority has always been delivering a superior experience for each and every TGI Fridays guest, and we’ve identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations to ensure we are best positioned to meet – and exceed – on that brand promise,” said Ray Risley, US president and chief operating officer, in the release.

Eight other locations were sold to former CEO Ray Blanchette, a longtime stakeholder who will acquire the previously corporate-owned restaurants.

The sale comes as major changes have been made to the brand’s leadership, including the news of Weldon Spangler being made CEO.

“As we continue along our path of transformation to revitalize the Fridays brand and implement a long-term growth strategy, we see a bright future for TGI Fridays,” said Spangler in a statement.

Also Read: Retirees Will Now Receive More Money For Social Security

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