VERNON TOWNSHIP — It’s going to be a bit harder for Deborah Manross to act like Santa Claus this year.
She’s been buying small Christmas gifts at Cutter’s Outlet in Vernon Township for the past several years for residents of Meadville Golden Living Center since her father-in-law had been a patient there.
“I gave a woman a (stuffed) dog and you’d thought I’d given her the world,” said Manross.
But Cutter’s, a Meadville variety store icon for some 60 years and one of Manross’ favorite places to shop, is set to close in the next few weeks.
Cutter’s has been known for nearly three generations of Meadville residents for its bargain prices on knick-knacks, glassware, toys, silk flowers, candles and host of other items.
Manross was in the store Tuesday looking for half-price bargains before the store’s two-acre parcel and 25,000-square-foot building on Conneaut Lake Road in Vernon Town-ship goes up for auction April 4.
“This will be a big loss,” Manross said of the closing.
No store closing date has been set as yet, said owner Jim Cutter.
Asked why he was closing the business, Cutter would only say he’s “discontinuing the business. I’m moving on. I’ll do something (else). I don’t know what yet.”
Jim Cutter has operated the business for the past 36 years, taking over from his late father, Otto. The elder Cutter died in 1998 at age 89.
“Dad started the business in 1948 in Meadville,” Cutter said. “We moved out here (to the Conneaut Lake Road location) in 1953.”
The first store was on Water Street in downtown Meadville where Valesky’s market is now, he said. The downtown store was discontinued by the late 1950s, he said. Cutter’s wasn’t any busier than usual Tuesday for a late winter/early spring day, said Cathie Chase, who’s worked at Cutter’s for more than five years.
“It was a normal day,” said Chase, explaining that the store had about 75 customers Tuesday. Weekend days are about twice that number this time of year, she said. The store’s busiest season is summer, with tourists visiting the area, she said. Manross said she’ll miss the store when it’s gone.
“This place met everybody’s needs,” said Manross.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
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