Downtown Palatine’s Frame Corner closing

Decorating one’s walls with custom framing and original art isn’t a priority during an economic downtown, Judy and Bruce Gibbs have learned.

It’s the main reason behind the couple’s decision to close the Frame Corner, a downtown Palatine institution for more than 25 years. Its doors at 34 W. Palatine Road will be shuttered for good March 31.

“It’s just been an agonizing decision,” said Judy Gibbs, who with her husband bought the business nearly seven years ago from the original owner. “It has to be about dollars and cents; you can’t make a business work on a hope and a dream.”

The Frame Corner, which in addition to custom framing has a sizable gallery of original art, signed- and limited-edition prints, lithographs, posters and photography, also hasn’t benefited from its location in recent months.

The road expansion construction downtown significantly reduced the amount of car traffic on Plum Grove Road despite the village’s efforts to promote local retailers, Gibbs said.

Those factors, along with impending expiration of the Gibbs’ lease, prompted their decision to close. They’ve already started unloading their inventory, equipment and even store furniture in a big liquidation sale.

“We’re at a point in our lives where we didn’t want to make another long-term (lease) commitment, and the biggest nut to crack every month is rent,” she said. “It’s been a stressful ride, but we’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”