Monday, February 5, 2024

[CLOSURE ALERT] Marietta Magic Shop Reveals Plans to Disappear For Good

Eddie's Trick Shop announced this week they are closing after nearly 50 years in business. The shop, currently located on the Marietta Square, sells costumes, novelties, clown, and magic merchandise, and is currently offering nearly all merchandise at 60 percent off.  The store's "closing sale" is expected to run for the next two weeks, but the store could close sooner depending on sales velocity.    

The closure of Eddie's Trick Shop marks the second longtime Cobb County business to end operations after decades in business in just the past thirty days.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report January 22 that Hodge Army Navy, a Marietta institution since 1955, was closing.  The store recently ran a liquidation sale that culminated with its permanent closure as of January 31.  

Frank McKinnon co-owns Eddie's with his sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Keith Beavers. 

Over the years, the store has moved around the Square before settling at 70 S Park Square NE.  In total, the store has had four different locations on South Park Square and North Park Square.

Having grown up in Atlanta, we at ToNeTo Atlanta have memories of the Marietta shop but also others in Duluth, Stone Mountain, and Decatur.  A search of the Georgia Secretary of State's website indicates there was also once - between 1987 and 2001 - another location in Buckhead at the corner of Piedmont and Roswell Roads in Tuxedo Festival.  

The Decatur location at 262 Rio Circle near Your DeKalb Farmers Market and the Duluth outpost at 3675 Satellite Boulevard in Duluth near Gwinnett Place Mall closed years ago.  The Stone Mountain store and warehouse located at 2075 West Park Place Boulevard Suite A across from Netherworld Haunted House closed this past August, according to the Eddie's Facebook page.  

In their Facebook post confirming the closure, the company said in part "It's with a heavy heart we can confirm the rumors are true, after 46 years we are closing our doors."  The company did not reveal a reason for the closure but like so many small businesses, they have undoubtedly been negatively impacted by the rise in e-commerce shopping, more specifically by Amazon, the online behemoth that has wreaked havoc on nearly every category from books to medicine.  

Earlier this month Amazon released their year-end results for 2023 where they saw their sales increase 12% to $574.8 billion.  North America segment sales increased 12% year-over-year to $352.8 billion.  The company also has more than 200 million Prime members.  Despite how awful Amazon may be for small businesses, they do a terrific job of keeping people in their ecosystem.  

It's incredibly difficult for the little guy to survive, let alone thrive.  

Eddie’s Trick Shop is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What is your fondest memory of Eddie's Trick Shop?  What is your favorite shop on the Marietta Square? Are you team #AbandonAmazon?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

11 comments:

Ham said...

Americans tend to say you they want Nordstroms level customer service, but when it comes right down to it, they really want Walmart/Amazon prices. I still prefer stores that offer expertise and great customers service, but there are fewer and fewer around.

Anonymous said...

In the mid-80s, there was a Stone Mountain store located in Stonemont Village Shopping Center at 5295 Memorial Drive. I took magic classes there when I was in elementary school and lived off Rays Road.

Anonymous said...

I hate Amazon and Jeff Bezos. I hope I live long enough to see someone/something take him down.

Anonymous said...

Nothing with character lasts anymore. Everything is microwave meal instant.

Anonymous said...

Bob McKinnon was my Sunday school teacher back in the 80’s. He used to do a new magic trick at the beginning of every class. He was a very nice man, and his shop in Stone Mountain was pretty cool.

Anonymous said...

Lots of good memories visiting the Square specifically for this shop. End of an era!

Anonymous said...

Cool.

Anonymous said...

Yep, next to the Stonemont Cinema and World Bazaar and there was a Waldenbooks ‘n more in the parking lot.

Anonymous said...

It doesn’t say explicitly in the article…was this the last remaining one?

Anonymous said...

Guess we’ll never know…

Anonymous said...

I worked at the Memorial Drive location and loved it dearly... I feel real grief about this... heartbreaking...

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