Hallmark store to close in Rostraver Township

By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
Employees at Rostraver Township Hallmark are working to save the store before its closure Oct. 1.
Store manager Helen Tretinik, who also serves as regional supervisor for all stores owned by R & D Business Centers, has asked patrons and Belle Vernon area residents to support their efforts.
“They’re closing down all 14 stores, but the biggest impact will definitely be felt in Belle Vernon and Mt. Pleasant for our communities,” Tretinik said. “We’re privately owned, not like corporate stores, so we’ve always seemed to have a bigger impact on our customers. We feel more like home for them.”
Pittsburgh-based R & D Business Centers expanded from five to 14 stores and more than 100 employees in less than five years, Tretinik said, ultimately leading to the closures.
“There’s been some heavy growth in this particular chain, and for those newer stores that were weak in the chain, it was a bit like drowning-person syndrome,” she said. “If you hang on, you’re going to bring down the person trying to save you.
“Bigger stores like this one just couldn’t help the weaker stores, and the company couldn’t get them closed down fast enough, so we were all affected.

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