A hallmark of Wheaton's downtown set to close
When it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas this year, at least one part of Wheaton won't.
Gaede's, one of Wheaton's staple destinations for holiday shopping and formal wear, in downtown Wheaton is closing after 53 years of business.
At age 79, Harold Gaede said it's just time to retire and take advantage of the good health he and his wife still have to spend time with grandchildren and do the things that time at the store never allowed for.
"I just promised myself to never be bored," Gaede said this afternoon. "We're not leaving Wheaton. We're Wheaton people. We'll go to Florida a bit for the winter, but Wheaton's home. We'll find things to do."
The thing to do since Gaede was 25 years old was successfully operate one of Wheaton's longest-tenured businesses.
The store opened in 1954 and eventually became one of seven clothing stores in downtown Wheaton. Of those seven original stores, Sandberg's Store for Men and Boys will be the only one still standing when Gaede's closes its doors.
"We've had a good run," Gaede said. "We'll definitely miss it. We've made some wonderful friends over the years. We've got some customers when we opened up the boys' store that are still customers. That makes it tough to leave. It's going to leave a void."
The void won't begin until the Gaedes help leave another mark on downtown Wheaton.
The actual closing date of the store won't be set until a replacement tenant or tenants are on the hook, Gaede said. The city's downtown retail consultant is working with the Gaedes to find replacements.
Some remodeling of the store space may be necessary, but the eventual end is set in stone.
"We'll be out of here before Christmas," Gaede said. "It's going to be difficult for me to go by the store and not stop in. It's just going to be hard not to come down here and meet these people. There's a lot of emotion on our side and their side, too."
Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk said the loss of Gaede's will be hard to soothe.
"They've been a mainstay destination shop in Wheaton for so many years,"ˆÅ¥ Gresk said. "I'm personally sorry to see them go.