By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Lewis Wildman and his stationery and gift shop have been a staple of the Princeton Shopping Center for nearly 35 years, but his run will end this summer.
Mr. Wildman said Thursday that he had learned at the end of last month that his lease was not being renewed. Despite his attempts to extend the agreement with the owner of the center, he finds himself having to close Jordan’s Stationery and Gifts by the end of June.
“I don’t want to quit,” he said by phone from inside the store. “I’ll miss being here.”
He said he feels “saddened” about how his tenure in the shopping center is ending, a sentiment he said his customers share. They have expressed feelings of sadness, anger that Jordan’s is leaving and support for Mr. Wildman, he said.
Mr. Wildman said he had tried to stay, but he found Edens, the Maryland-based center owner, unresponsive. “They did not reply to working anything out,” he said.
Mr. Wildman said he was informed by an Edens attorney that his lease was not being renewed. An Edens spokeswoman did not return a phone call seeking comment.
By his count, Mr. Wildman said the shopping center has 10 vacancies that have not been filled. His store will be the 11th.
He offered appreciation to all his customers through the years. He said there is “a 10 percent chance” he might open somewhere else. In the meantime, he is selling off his inventory at discounted prices.
“Everything must go, please help us,” he said in trying to add a touch of humor to the situation.
