MONROE - A cornerstone downtown business is closing after almost 40 years on the Square.
Das Baumhaus, a women's clothing and gift store that has been in business for 38 years at 1630 11th St., will be closing as owner Barb Gehlbach retires.
"With mixed emotions we have decided to retire and close das Baumhaus," read a post on the store's Facebook page this week. It was signed by Gelbach and manager Ellen Hossman.
The boutique, whose name means "the treehouse" in German, is in a building Gelbach's family has owned since 1918. She said it's the oldest building on Monroe's Square. The name for the store was derived from Gelbach's maiden name, Bauman, she said.
Gelbach said she's lived in Monroe all her life and has no plans to leave.
The shop was a flurry of activity Wednesday as word of the imminent closing spread. Gelbach and Hossman hugged long-time customers and laughed with them as soft piano music sounded overhead.
Gelbach said there will be one final installment in the store's monthly Style Show series - in which customers strut their stuff on the runway like real fashion models - July 9 at Turner Hall, 1217 17th Ave.
In the 1930s, Gelbach's father and grandfather opened a branch of Chicago-based Ace Hardware Corp. in the building, according to a history Gelbach provided The Monroe Times. Monroe's Ace was among the first 100 in the country. The top floor featured an expansive toy department that attracted kids and parents from around the area.
"I think it was the only toy store in town," said Gelbach. "This was before Walmart and the other big stores were here."
She opened das Baumhaus in December 1976 after Bauman Ace Hardware moved to a larger facility on the city's west side. The following year the shop began selling women's apparel in addition to cards and gifts. In 1979, Gelbach purchased the building from her grandfather, and the top floor was converted into three apartments.
The store will be open
today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.
Das Baumhaus, a women's clothing and gift store that has been in business for 38 years at 1630 11th St., will be closing as owner Barb Gehlbach retires.
"With mixed emotions we have decided to retire and close das Baumhaus," read a post on the store's Facebook page this week. It was signed by Gelbach and manager Ellen Hossman.
The boutique, whose name means "the treehouse" in German, is in a building Gelbach's family has owned since 1918. She said it's the oldest building on Monroe's Square. The name for the store was derived from Gelbach's maiden name, Bauman, she said.
Gelbach said she's lived in Monroe all her life and has no plans to leave.
The shop was a flurry of activity Wednesday as word of the imminent closing spread. Gelbach and Hossman hugged long-time customers and laughed with them as soft piano music sounded overhead.
Gelbach said there will be one final installment in the store's monthly Style Show series - in which customers strut their stuff on the runway like real fashion models - July 9 at Turner Hall, 1217 17th Ave.
In the 1930s, Gelbach's father and grandfather opened a branch of Chicago-based Ace Hardware Corp. in the building, according to a history Gelbach provided The Monroe Times. Monroe's Ace was among the first 100 in the country. The top floor featured an expansive toy department that attracted kids and parents from around the area.
"I think it was the only toy store in town," said Gelbach. "This was before Walmart and the other big stores were here."
She opened das Baumhaus in December 1976 after Bauman Ace Hardware moved to a larger facility on the city's west side. The following year the shop began selling women's apparel in addition to cards and gifts. In 1979, Gelbach purchased the building from her grandfather, and the top floor was converted into three apartments.
The store will be open
today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.