Owners of Village boutique selling it as 'turnkey business'

MUNCIE, Ind. — A women's clothing store that has spent five years in The Village near Ball State will eventually leave its post.

But its owners are welcoming anyone interested in taking over the space, equipment included.

Peter Lask, co-owner of Juniper, told The Star Press the business is selling its furnishings, available for purchase for someone to either operate another business in its place or use them elsewhere.

"We weren't reaching the level of sales that we wanted to, and so although (Juniper) wasn't losing money, it wasn't generating enough revenue," Lask said.

The store isn't closing immediately, but owners made the decision last month not to renew their lease. Lask said depending on inquiries into the space and equipment, the store would likely remain open until July. Its lease expires at the end of that month. 

Lask recommends customers who have accumulated store credit or gift cards use those as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the owners will focus on their original Juniper store in Oxford, Ohio, near Miami University. 

"We'd rather concentrate our time on that store, and our attention on that store because it's a very viable business," Lask said. "For whatever reason, it just never caught on in Muncie." 

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Juniper also had a location for more than a decade in West Lafayette's Wabash Landing shopping center, but that store started liquidation sales in December. Lask said the city of Lafayette's recent State Street project "took half the parking," which "basically took half our business."

Lask had no complaints about parking in The Village near Ball State. Juniper's lease includes two-hour customer parking in the lot behind neighboring coffee shop, The Cup.

► FROM THE ARCHIVES:  New store, Juniper, going small in the Village

"We’ve enjoyed doing business in Muncie," Lask said, "and it’s unfortunate that it didn't grow more than it did. We are thankful for the time we had there, and we're sorry for the customers that did enjoy the store."

According to Lask's post in Facebook's marketplace, price for the store's fixtures — furniture, electronics, clothing racks, shelving, display counters and more — totals at $5,000. This doesn't include the store's inventory, which is for sale separately at a negotiated price.

"For sale as a turnkey business in place, or buy the furnishings as a package and move to your space. Instant store!" the Facebook post reads, also noting that Juniper's space totals around 1,800 square feet, including additional basement and storage room.

The "Juniper" name is not included in the sale, as the original Ohio store will remain open.

Lask said he will announce on the business's Facebook page when he begins to liquidate the Muncie store's inventory. The Facebook page is also where those interested in the furnishings can find more information.

Audrey Kirby is a reporter at the Star Press. Follow her on Twitter @ajanekirby, and email her story ideas: ajkirby@muncie.gannett.com.