Learning Express to close at CitiPlace

Learning Express is closing its doors for good at the end of the month, after nearly 19 years in business. Aimee Gremillion—who has co-owned the educational toy store franchise with her husband, Craig, since 2004—says a combination of factors led to the decision to permanently shutter the store. Those include tougher economic times, changing shopping patterns and a lack of foot traffic in CitiPlace on Corporate Boulevard. “Two years ago, people would come in here and spend $25 or $30 on a birthday present,” Gremillion says. “Now we don’t have as many of those customers, and those who do come are only spending $10 or $15.” Competition from online retailers has exacerbated the problem. Gremillion says customers will come shop and eyeball items at her store, only to then go purchase them online. “I can’t compete any longer,” she says. “It has just gotten too hard.” Adding to the challenge is the fact that several retailers have left CitiPlace in the past three years, including Ruffles ‘n Britches, Christian Street Sofas, The Panhandler and Harold’s. Ruffles ‘n Britches owner Allison Ray, who relocated her children’s clothing store to Bocage Village in late 2010, says foot traffic at the shopping center was always a problem for retailers. “It just wasn’t a destination,” she says. —Stephanie Riegel