Don Alans, longtime mall tenant, forced to close
MARY ESTHER - Don Alans Men's Store is closing in Santa Rosa Mall, but that doesn't mean owner Don Alan Work has plans to retire.
"Well, there's been several things, but the downturn in the economy has been the big thing," Work said calmly, minutes before the final sale that will clear out his stock was set to start Thursday morning.
"In 2005 we had the best year we ever had," he added. "In 2006 that dropped and then in 2007 it dropped even more. Last Christmas was half of what we did the year before."
That time frame corresponds closely with the downturn in the local real estate market. And as Work pointed out, many people in real estate were his regular customers.
When the store closes, it will mark the end of a chapter that started in 1948. That's when the late George Alford opened Leo's Men's Store in downtown Fort Walton Beach.
Work was employed there before graduating from Choctawhatchee High School in 1966 and afterward, when he attended Okaloosa-Walton Junior College.
Work bought the store from Alford's surviving daughter in 1986 and stayed downtown until moving to Santa Rosa Mall in late 1997.
"It's been very tough," Work said. "I was born and raised here, and I come from a family of eight. I ended up buying it (the business) and fulfilling a dream. It's going to be tough. ... Mall business is down and the mix of businesses has changed."
Mall General Manager Bill Bubel said he's already had discussions with possible tenants for the 2,300 square feet that will be vacant when Don Alans closes.
"Traffic is down, and sales are down," Bubel said. "But my numbers are very similar to what other retailers are dealing with right now."
Santa Rosa Mall has about 80 percent occupancy in its 110 retail spaces, Bubel said, something that has remained constant for the past several years.
"He's been in the mall a long time, and he's a valued tenant, a great tenant." Bubel said. "It's unfortunate his business was not able to weather the economic situation."
But at age 59, Work is not ready to pack it in entirely. He still owns a similar men's store in downtown Pensacola, and he will still be doing wardrobe consulting and custom suits here locally.
"Hopefully when business gets better, I can reopen in Destin." Work added, declining to name a specific location for that possibility.