PORTLAND, Oregon — It's been a month since Finnegan's Toys & Gifts shut down its iconic downtown store, where it has been in business for 43 years. Now the locally owned shop is working to stay afloat with phone orders from its website.
Owner Karen Leppmann said on Monday that she's been so busy trying to keep the business going, she's not sure exactly how successful she's been over the past month.
"It’s nothing like being open, (we're) not doing that kind of business, we can’t do that without our wonderful employees. But we’re limping along we’re doing OK," said Leppman.
The store owner's hope is to reopen safely when the time is right, and get about a half-dozen laid off employees back to work. In the meantime she is working with a local credit union to get their paychecks restarted, with help from small business aid programs.
Employee Linda Williams is missing her job, working in the store.
"I miss my co workers we just had our first zoom party Friday night, we miss each other. I miss the job, miss the customers, the daily interaction, being downtown; yeah all of it," said Williams.
Williams knows the toy store is a special place.
"I absolutely want the community to rally around Finnegan’s, I want to hear more people say I came here when I was a kid and now I’m bringing my kids here," said Williams.
Leppmann appreciates the dedication, from employees and customers alike. Along with the phone orders have come thank you's, and special stories.
"I head recently from a woman whose son got engaged at Finnegan’s by putting a ring on a teddy bear and asking his girlfriend to choose a bear, so I’m hearing really wonderful stories, that’s been really good," said Leppman, who hopes more people will support local small businesses.
"Places like Finnegans’ are what make Portland different from other cities, and if we’re all ordering from Walmart and the little guys are closing we’re no different than any place else. And I think because of this experience we’re all going through, people are starting to see that."
Finnegan's is shipping orders to customers, but they are also making pickup at the store possible at one time per afternoon. They've got a safe way to do sidewalk service, to get their products to customers.