Lu-Lu’s Solitary Consignment to close its doors
In June, Luann Vasilou was basking in the glow of having won the Best of North Fort Myers award for Best Consignment Shop for the seventh time.
As of October, Lu-Lu’s Solitary Consignment at the North Shore Shopping Plaza will close its doors to make way for the expansion of the warehouse at the new Harbor Freight next door.
Vasilou said she got the call from her landlord last month, telling her they wouldn’t renew the lease.
“He said they were asking me to leave because Harbor Freight, the store next to me, wants my space to add to their warehouse,” Vasilou said. “The landlord said they were doing well and wanted my space.”
Harbor Freight has already expanded into locations that previously included a nail salon and a jewelry store, which moved elsewhere in the plaza.
Vasilou said they didn’t want her space at first, and if they did, she planned to move to the former Radio Shack location.
However Harbor Freight also needed that spot.
Vasilou started her business more than 20 years ago on First Street in downtown Fort Myers before moving across the river in 2005.
“I always wanted to be in the consignment business and I bought a store from someone else,” Vasilou said.
All merchandise will be marked down 50 percent from now until closing. The markdown includes clothing, jewelry, accessories, boutique items and many other things associated with consignment shopping.
The news of the closing hit those who shop there very hard, and Vasilou said she feels bad for them, but the decision wasn’t by choice.
“Every day I have customers come in who are like family. They’re crying and upset I’m leaving because they only come here and not the other stores,” Vasilou said.
As for the future, Vasilou isn’t sure whether she would be able to start up somewhere else, because she doesn’t know if she could come up with all the expenses associated with a new location, including the first month, last month and security required to open a shop.
“I’m going to take another month to figure out what I’m going to do. I love sales and the customers,” Vasilou said. “They come in sometimes to say hello and there are a lot of locals, and friendships I’ve made. I’m really going to miss it.
Lu-Lu’s is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 656-0900.