John Reny

The family-owned retailer had intended its last day at 540 Congress St. to be Dec. 31 but pushed the closure up a day early due to illness and staff shortages, as noted in a sign on the door.

"We gave it our best shot," John Reny, president of the family-owned discounter, told Mainebiz of the location at 540 Congress St. The store will end its 15-year run at the downtown location on Dec. 31.

The discount retailer aims to open a store at Shaw's Plaza on Western Avenue before Christmas, the company's president told Mainebiz.

"There a lot of good stuff happening in Waterville," the company's president told Mainebiz as the family-owned discount retailer gets ready to open its 19th store there in April.

After a 10% tariff on goods imported from China took effect on Tuesday, the Asian nation responded with targeted countermeasures

The two family-owned retailers report strong sales this season, as the National Retail Federation projects a 3% to 4% holiday spending increase across the U.S.