Two more Gorant Candies shops are closing

AUSTINTOWN — Two more Gorant Candies shops will be closing after American Greetings sold its retail stores to a California company.

A worker at the Kirk Road store said that store, as well as one on U.S. Route 224 in Boardman, are closing. A sign at the Kirk store announces a 75 percent off sale and says that all sales are final. About 20 people worked at the Austintown store.

An employee at the Route 224 store referred questions to American Greetings of Cleveland.

Frank Cirillo, an American Greetings spokesman, said that company sold its retail store operations including Gorant and Yum Yum Tree, effective April 17, to Schurman Fine Papers of Fairfield, Calif., which runs card and gift retail stores as Papyrus.

Schurman officials couldn’t be reached.

American Greetings retains the candy manufacturing plant on Market Street, Boardman, and Cirillo said there have been no discussions about closing that facility.

Three other Gorant Candies stores, on East Market Street in Howland, Elm Road in Warren and U.S. Route 422, Niles, continue to operate. They are Hallmark Gold Crown stores.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com