Thank you from the GRAPEViNE
Editor,
It is not often one is given an opportunity to live out your dreams. The Shartle family was given such a gift. Fifteen years ago we made the decision to open a retail store and then picked Chattanooga. Our two oldest sons, Brian and Daniel, joined us in the move, and in 1995 we opened the GRAPEViNE, specializing in “hats, caps, socks and more.”
That “more” evolved into selling Vera Bradley and Life is good® products. The original store on Gadd Road in Hixson was moved in 1998 to North Market Street just over the bridge while the second location opened in 1996 on Mississippi Avenue, Signal Mountain in time for the annual Sunday on Signal Open House. In 2004 the downtown store was moved to its final location on Broad Street. It was at this time that the world of Disc Golf expanded and sales included baskets and the annual GRAPEViNE Disc Golf Classic Tournament. And then the Signal Mountain store moved to its final location in the Signal Crossing Shopping Center in 2001. In between all these moves, we decided to try out a store in Hamilton Place Mall. Our temporary space was moved four times, but it lasted seven years.
We’ve been called “The Life is good® store, the Vera Bradley store, and “The Great Store,” among many others, but in all that time, the GRAPEViNE has remained loyal to the communities it had served, supporting churches, schools, organizations, and other businesses. And now that we are closing the stores, we want to thank everyone for supporting us throughout this whole process. For us as a family, it has been a wonderful experience to grow closer and share in the day-to-day running of a family business. And too, it is not often that employees feel like family and we can truly say that we are very grateful for our employees.
It is with pride that we close our doors knowing that we made a difference and that our journey is not over; it is just taking a turn in the road. Thank you for being there with us. And as anyone who had an opportunity to be rung up by our five-year-old granddaughter Paige, at the Signal Mountain store heard her say, “Thank you for coming to the GRAPEViNE and have a great day.”
Pris and Mark Shartle