The plan is to exit in style … straddled to a winged buffalo.
On the last day of business for the Copper Country Antiques & Collectibles Mall, owner Phillip Gaillard intends to ride his mascot, Fred the buffalo, from his rooftop perch for a final farewell.
After 12 years in business at the corner of Speedway and Rosemont Boulevard, the mall will close at the end of the year, unless a last-minute investor interest pays off.
“We’re a walk down memory lane for a lot of people,” Gaillard said last week as he walked through the mall, pointing to the many unique items for sale.
Vendors rent space in the mall to sell everything from jewelry to fine china and furniture.
In anticipation of the closing, many items are marked with discounts of 40, 50 and 60 percent.
Gaillard said the bureaucracy of running a business finally caught up with him.
“Never once has anybody come in and said, ‘Thank you for hiring people and providing a unique place in the community,’” he said. “All that’s ever come in here is this inspector or that inspector.”
The last run-in with an inspector was over a sign that one of the vendors had placed out on the sidewalk.
“This is the straw that broke the buffalo’s back,” Gaillard said to his manager of 11 years, Peggy Borchart. “I’ve had enough.”
The mall employs 17 people and has about 170 vendors.
“The reaction was tears and sadness,” he said of the announced closing. “Many folks have been here since it opened.”
NW-SIDE MALL COMING
Vivian Feinberg moved into the mall nearly three years ago and sells vintage furniture and antiques.
“None of us wanted to leave,” she said. “It’s a great location. It’s sad.”
But, Feinberg prefers to focus on the silver lining. A new antique and collectibles mall is opening at the end of November at the corner of Oracle and Wetmore roads, next to the Chuze gym.
“It’s brand new and there’s really nothing on the northwest side like this,” she said. “I’m excited about that.”
Antique Village Mall at 4343 N. Oracle Road is expected to open at the end of this month, said Georgie Adams, who owns it along with her husband, Lou.
Their project was not in response to the closing of Copper Country, but some vendors have already approached her about moving in.
“We were halfway through construction when we heard the news,” Adams said. “We needed something like this on this side of town and always thought, ‘Why doesn’t someone build it?’ So we did.
“We were all sad to hear about Copper.”
The new mall has space for about 50 booths, and 20 vendors have signed up so far, Adams said.
Antique Village Mall will focus on antiques and collectibles and maybe some vintage clothing. Vendors interested in relocating there can call Adams at 730-0787.
FRED ISN’T FOR SALE
Late last week, a potential investor came forward and expressed interested in buying and keeping Copper Country’s current format, Gaillard said.
If that investor falls through, Gaillard plans to work with realty agents to sell the property, in which he’s invested $2 million since opening in November 2003.
“The building might be torn down and rebuilt as something else,” he said. “It’s on a good corner.”
The 74-year-old hasn’t decided what he’ll do next.
“Maybe go look for America,” he said.
As for Fred, who has become a landmark in central Tucson, he’ll be joining Gaillard.
“Fred is a fun guy to look at,” Gaillard said.
With more than a dozen costumes to his name, Fred donned his Captain America outfit last week as he looked down on visitors from his spot on the roof, where he could be found since 2006.
When Fred has been taken down for repair or costume change, people call to ask his whereabouts.
The other characters that live at Copper Country, such as a giraffe, rooster and a lady buffalo, are for sale, but not the trusty mascot.
“I have no intention of selling Fred,” Gaillard said. “He’s been my buddy forever.”
