The Shoppes on Main, a downtown Franklin store, announced on Facebook recently that it will be moving locations and possibly closing for good. Taking its place will be another Main Street shop, Philanthropy.
According to Shoppes owner Janis Gaudette, Philanthropy signed the lease to move into the Shoppes location in early 2017.
Philanthropy CEO Christina Martin said she had no comment on the move, or whether it is an expansion or a total move of the store. She said she would issue a press release in coming days.
The current location of Philanthropy is 434 Main Street.
On their website they say their mission is:
“Philanthropy opened in June of 2007 with the belief that a business built around charitable works and grounded in Christ could make a difference in the world. We opened as a platform for our customers to make a difference. By carrying a variety of fashion-forward clothes and accessories that are perfect for the modern woman, we strive to keep our customers consciously and compassionately stylish. We pledge a minimum of 10% of every sale in store and 100% of all proceeds from our web store to the many charities we support.”
Located at 413 Main Street, the boutique Shoppes on Main, with its various merchants, was not given the option to resign its lease, Gaudette said.
As per its Facebook post:
We found out in June through the grapevine (just like you) that our lease was not going to be renewed and another tenant had already signed a lease months earlier to take over our space. We were not asked if we wanted to renew and had naively thought we might get an extension. We have been trying to find another space since we found out and had thought we had secured the former Inspirations on Main space. On November 1st, the building owner changed their minds and decided to proceed with their original plans of putting in another restaurant. We were devastated as that was our last hope of staying on Main Street. If we don’t find another location, we will be saying goodbye to Downtown Franklin in early March.”
The former location of Inspirations on Main is going to be The Grilled Cheeserie.
