Decades-Long Family Business Says Goodbye to West Side Art Community

Service Reproduction Co., a 78-year-old art supply store on Grand Rapids' west side, will close its doors this Saturday after more than three-quarters of a century in business.

The family-owned small business, which initially made its money by printing blueprints in the 1940s, has branched out over the decades to sell art supplies that fill its friendly aisles with colorful paints, pencils, and many other mediums.

"This has been our life," said general manager Caroll Warners, who has worked at the store for the past 38 years. "My whole adult life, I've been here."

Warners, whose father owns Service Reproduction Co., says post-pandemic costs have climbed as sales have fallen. The closure comes as the store struggles with the economic challenges facing many small businesses in Grand Rapids.

"We really saw a decrease in customers coming in," Warners said. "We just can't afford to stay in business anymore."

The store made "every effort" to move to a different location, but Warners says they weren't able to afford to do so in an "inflated" real estate market.

"There's been a lot of tears between customers and the staff here," she said. "It was not an easy decision by any means."

Construction Impact on Local Business

Across the street from the store, the nearby construction of Amway Stadium has also been bad for business. The store has seen decreased foot traffic as large-scale developments transform the city skyline.

"We just can't afford to stay in business anymore," Warners said, citing the combined pressures of rising costs and declining sales in an area undergoing major construction.

While the store made "every effort" to relocate to a different location, Warners says they weren't able to afford to do so in an "inflated" real estate market.

"The last day of business for Service Reproduction Co. is this Saturday," Warners said. "We were here to give people what they needed."

Chamber of Commerce Response

As Amway Stadium and other large-scale projects like the Acrisure Amphitheater begin to take their place in the city skyline, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has weighed in on the impact of construction on local businesses.

"We all wish we didn't have to have construction, but it is a necessity," said Alex Benda, the chamber's economic growth business consultant.

Benda said developments like these are designed to bring long-term economic growth to a city, including its small businesses. In the short-term, though, it's these businesses that sometimes do pay a price, forced to reckon with closed roads, less foot traffic and less parking as construction takes place nearby.

"[Construction] is not a problem that businesses have to suffer from all the time, but your sidewalk is going to have to be repaired at some point," Benda said. "So, knowing your business is going to be open, you need to start thinking about how would you handle the situation."

Benda says, in these situations, the Grand Rapids Chamber can connect business owners to "a ton of resources," including a new program called West Michigan Community Cash, which offers gift cards that can only be spent at designated spots the city.

"It takes a villager to make a village, and with construction, those businesses that are on the street are absolutely in need," he said.

Community Farewell

After announcing the store's closure, Warners says the response from customers was "huge."

"Everybody's just heartbroken we won't be here anymore," she said.

The last day of business for Service Reproduction Co. is this Saturday. Warners says she's thankful for the artists, crafters, schools and professionals who've helped keep her family's business open for more than three-quarters of a century.

"We were here to give people what they needed," Warners said.

The store has served the local art community since the 1940s, providing supplies to artists, crafters, schools, and professionals across Kent County. Its closure marks the end of an era for one of Grand Rapids' longest-standing small businesses.