Post by Dave on Sept 20, 2014 10:36:44 GMT -5
This is a sad day for the Disney fans in north Florida. The Character Premiere store in the St. Augustine Outlet Mall is closing. DW and I visited the store about every other month to look, buy and just talk to the cast members. We got most of our trading pins, most of our Disney shirts, our Christmas ornaments, our Disney figurines, watches, hats, etc., at the CP.
We learned in June that they were to close in September, but they didn’t know the date. I called every week or so (and went there a couple of times a month) and yesterday they told me the date was Sept 20. DW and I ran through the shower, got dressed and made an emergency trip to St. Augustine. The store was almost empty. Everything was 70% off. We got a few things, but almost everything was gone. They hadn't restocked the store for months. We stayed and talked to the cast members for a while (there were almost no customers). All of the cast members were offered jobs at the Disney store in Jacksonville, a new Disney store opening next week in Jacksonville, or at one of the WDW parks. At least they still have jobs.
We used to go there on Monday nights for pin trading and trivia, and became friends with several cast members. We’ll miss them all.
After we left the store, DW and I went to one of our favorite seafood restaurants in St. Augustine and drowned our sorrow in fried catfish and hush puppies. And french fries. With catsup. But no dessert because we’re on a diet.
