Longtime McMurray Hallmark owner departing after 35 years
Dick Barnes, owner of Pat’s Hallmark in the Donaldsons Crossroads Shopping Center in Peters Township, stands inside his store, which will close this month. Barnes lost his lease after 35 years to another Hallmark franchise.
Dick Barnes owner of Pat’s Hallmark in the Donaldsons Crossroads shopping center in Peters Township stands outside his store. Barnes lost his lease after 35 years to another Hallmark franchise.
Dick Barnes is at a crossroads at the Crossroads.
His 35-year run at Pat’s Hallmark will end in the next week or so. He will be moving out of the greeting card store he and his wife, Pat, own in Donaldsons Crossroads Shopping Center – and where another owner will take over Jan. 27.
For Dick Barnes, it has been a second home, a comfortable spot where customers and employees have been a second family – a very extensive one.
“I’ve had the best employees you can find anywhere,” he said over the telephone last week from his Peters Township shop, where all items on display are 70 percent off.
“I’ve had kids start working with us while they were in high school and they all turned out to be good people. One is a doctor, another a pharmacist, another a pharmacist’s rep. I’ve treated them like family and they’ve treated me like an old dad.
“People have been hugging you, kissing you on the cheek. It makes you feel good, but sad.”
Barnes, 83, doesn’t want to leave his first Hallmark shop. He said Zamagias Properties, owner of the retail complex at the intersection of East McMurray and Washington roads, did not renew his lease, adding the company advised him of this “about six months ago.”
“It was quite a shock to us and a shock to our customers,” Barnes said. “I’ve been choked up about 40 times the last few days.
“I’ve paid over $3 million in rent over the years, but it’s their shopping center and they have a right to do this. = But it’s not right.”
Zamagias, based in downtown Pittsburgh, could not be reached for comment.
For now, Barnes will continue to own and operate the other two Pat’s Hallmark stores he owns, in White Oak and Hopewell Township, Beaver County. He said he once owned nine.
Barnes said he isn’t intent on launching a new third site, but isn’t discounting that either.
“I don’t have plans to do that, but it could happen. But I won’t be able to get one in this area,” said Barnes, whose wife politely declined to be interviewed for this story.
Betres Group Inc. of Butler will reopen the Peters shop in about two weeks, renaming it Olivia’s Hallmark.
This will be the group’s 11th Hallmark in Southwestern Pennsylvania, said Frank Betres, who operates the family business. It will be the southernmost store, with other locations in South Hills Village; Virginia Manor Shops, Mt. Lebanon; Wexford; McCandless; Shaler Township; O’Hara Township; Monroeville; Murrysville; and two in the Butler area.
Frank Betres said he plans to retain Crossroads store manager Sue Pletcher and all other employees, and to “remodel sometime in April.” It would be a facelift without expansion.
“We’d do the current Hallmark update: new fixtures, carpeting, new front.”
In this instance, location, location, location appeals to Betres as much as it would to any quality real estate agent. “This is a great area,” he said. “The demographics fit our merchandising perfectly.”
Barnes said he is selling about 60 percent of his merchandise to Betres, and has vastly discounted items in the store through Jan. 20.
“Because of all the great customers I’ve had, I’m selling everything Mr. Betres is not taking for 70 percent off.”
Despite the potential for contentiousness, each party said he has had a cordial relationship with the other.
“Frank has been very respectful of me, and I of him,” Barnes said.
“He has been more than civil to me,” Betres said of his predecessor.
A Lawrence resident, Barnes has had a varied career that includes stints as a newspaper reporter and editor. He founded several regional weeklies, including The Advertiser and The Almanac, the latter a sister paper of the Observer-Reporter.
Pat’s Hallmark has been a true family business. Son Jeff Barnes remains on the payroll, balancing the books part time on weekends.
“He pays the taxes and rent,” his father said.
Another son, Brad Barnes, previously worked in the store, but now owns and operates Barnes Bros. Motorcycles & Off-Road in Canonsburg with two sons.
Soon, the Barnes presence will be gone at Pat’s Hallmark, a prospect that isn’t appealing to the patriarch. Dick Barnes’ heartfelt sentiment toward visitors to his store, however, transcends clever words on colorfully designed paper.
“I’d like to thank all of my loyal employees and all of the great, great customers who have made it possible to be a profitable business.”
And to forge bonds and lasting memories.