Painted Tree Boutique leaders attributed the closure to unexpected changes in the retail landscape. Vendors have 10 days to retrieve their items from their booths.
ROUND ROCK, Texas — Painted Tree Boutique’s nationwide shutdown is sending shockwaves through Central Texas, where several small business owners now find themselves without a place to sell their products.
For vendors like Jennifer Aghassibake of Magpie Gallery, the news came without warning.
“It’s so sad to see everybody’s dreams just kind of taken away like that,” Aghassibake said.
Aghassibake and others rushed to the Round Rock location on Tuesday after learning that they had just 10 days to clear out their booths.
Painted Tree Boutique leaders attributed the closure to unexpected changes in the retail landscape. In a statement, the company wrote:
“Rising costs, shifting market conditions, and the evolving nature of how people shop have presented challenges that, despite our best efforts and our community’s unwavering support, we have not been able to overcome. We are heartbroken by this outcome.”
Aghassibake told KVUE that for the past year, she has operated her small business inside Painted Tree. As a law student, she said it’s given her a creative outlet and helped her pay for school.
“The thing I love the most about Painted Tree was that you have a booth and there’s a central checkout so I can go to my full time job, have all my stuff there,” Aghassibake said.
Now Aghassibake said she’s out thousands of dollars in inventory with nowhere to take it.
Other vendors are facing similar losses. Ashley Bowling, owner of Proper Pieces, said the closure hits her family directly.
“This business has definitely been a huge financial support for myself and my family, paying for kids activities, putting food on the table – and so this is a huge loss for myself, for shoppers and the community,” Bowling said.
At the Round Rock location alone, vendors said roughly 150 small businesses are affected. Some told KVUE that they’re still waiting for payments from March sales and haven’t been given a timeline for when those funds will arrive. When asked, the store’s manager told KVUE that they did not have that information.
Despite the uncertainty, some vendors are trying to stay optimistic.
“I feel like small business owners are … we adapt and we are innovative,” Bowling said. “And so, I know that we’ll be looking for the next opportunity to try and continue to be successful.”