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BLACKDUCK 鈥� The community of Blackduck is reeling after last week鈥檚 announcement that The Shade Store will close its operations there, resulting in the loss of about 120 jobs.

The company, which began as Anderson Fabrics in 1980, is Blackduck鈥檚 largest employer. The layoffs also include eight employees from the Anderson Fabrics Factory Outlet and Quilt Shop. The Shade Store, based in Port Chester, N.Y., acquired the business in 2021.

鈥淚t's absolutely devastating,鈥� said Scott Peterson, economic and community coordinator for the Blackduck Development Corporation. 鈥淎nderson Fabrics and The Shade Store have been up here for so many years and been a staple in the community. To all of a sudden lose 120 or so jobs, that has a huge impact on the community.鈥�

Layoffs will go into effect Wednesday, April 30, and during the 14-day period thereafter, according to a release. Positions affected by the layoff include janitorial, production, programming, retail, safety and shipping among others.

Blackduck Mayor Max Gullette said the city is working with local and state organizations to look at options for the future.

鈥淢y heart goes out to the people affected by the layoffs at The Shade Store,鈥� Gullette said. 鈥淭here is going to be an impact on our community, but we are a very tight-knit community, and we will get through this.鈥�

He added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a blow to the community, but The Shade Store has done the right thing by offering a severance package to workers and offering them the chance to relocate to another Shade Store location. They鈥檝e been cooperative in answering the Blackduck City Council鈥檚 questions.鈥�

Gullette said the city is also working with the Blackduck Development Corporation and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

鈥淲e will pursue all options to find something to move into that empty building,鈥� he added.

Addressing the outlet store situation, Gullette said the manager, Claire Kupcho, is currently in the Twin Cities visiting with other entities in an effort to find a way to keep Anderson Fabrics Outlet and Quilt Shop open.

Alex Faber / Bemidji Pioneer

Peterson said the impact of last week鈥檚 announcement is being felt throughout the community, including the school district, which many Shade Store employees鈥� children attend.

鈥淭he biggest thing I've been hearing is, 鈥榃hat are we going to do now?鈥欌�� Peterson said. 鈥溾�榃here are we going to be able to find another job here in Blackduck? Are we going to be able to find a job anywhere that pays what the Shade Store was paying?鈥欌��

Peterson said he stopped in the outlet store on Friday to check in on the employees, who were trying to deal with the previous day鈥檚 news.

鈥淚 let him know that the BDC was here to help,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne thing that was mentioned to me is that all the ladies who work there are considering forming a co-op and potentially purchasing it that way.鈥�

Dave Hengel, executive director at Greater Bemidji Economic Development, said his organization is also looking at ways to support the Blackduck community.

鈥淎nderson Fabrics has been the identity of Blackduck for many, many years,鈥� Hengel said. 鈥淲hile it has slowly decreased in terms of the number of employees, it still has 115 employees that are important to the region. Obviously, it has a major impact on the city and on the county and our economy. Ultimately, the first focus needs to be the employees, so we're working to make sure that they have the resources they need, either to immediately go into another job or to get retrained in an area they're interested in.鈥�

He said there have been talks with Beltrami County about hosting a job fair at The Shade Store workroom. Larger employers who are seeking workers would be invited.

Hengel also noted the impact that the outlet store has on Blackduck鈥檚 economy.

鈥淲e are trying to see if any of the employees there have interest in keeping that store open,鈥� Hengel said. 鈥淚f they do, we鈥檒l take our team from Greater Bemidji up there to support them with some business assistance, financial assistance, marketing help, that type of thing. We are doing our best to see if we can keep that open downtown because certainly the plant is critical for the whole community, but that store is absolutely critical for downtown Blackduck. It creates traffic, and traffic matters to downtown.鈥�

Peterson is hopeful that in spite of last week鈥檚 announcement, Blackduck will find a positive path forward.

鈥淲e're all doing everything we can to try to fill the void that's there,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淥bviously the sooner the better, but it's important to understand that it all takes time.鈥�