Zim's falls victim to big box stores and Internet


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A longtime Utah family-owned and operated business is closing its doors. This Saturday, after 62 ears, Zim's Crafts will shut down. The company says it's another victim of big box stores and the Internet.

Craig Zimmerman, owner
Craig Zimmerman, owner

It was a landmark, a fixture on the east side of I-15 in the center of the valley. You couldn't miss Zim's! If you had a craft project, you'd go there.

"One of the things we always hear from customers: ‘If Zim's doesn't have it, nobody does,'" owner Craig Zimmerman said.

In fact, the store has everything from holiday nutcrackers, unfinished wood products and doll parts to glitters, yarns and ribbons. At one time, the inventory list was 97,000 items strong.

Besides handling the needs of local customers, Zim's main business through the years was wholesaling these items to as many as 13,000 small crafts dealers across the country.

"These are mostly mom-and-pop independent stores. But they're gone, they're just gone," Zimmerman said.

Zim's falls victim to big box stores and Internet

They were gobbled up by the big box stores and the craft Web sites on the Internet. So after nearly 62 years, Zim's will shut its doors too.

Cliff and Eleanor Zimmerman opened the store in 1947, and the family has operated it ever since.

Eleanor, who's now 89, still drops by periodically. She has fond memories. "It's been so much fun to see somebody come in and be able to show them something that will work for their project," she said.

As the news has gotten out about the impending closure, loyal customers have surged into the store. It's an emotional time for them, as well as longtime employees.

Karen Young, who has worked at Zim's for 21 years, said, "The closer it gets, I think the harder it's going to be."

Cliff and Eleanor Zimmerman
Cliff and Eleanor Zimmerman

"A couple of weeks ago, we decided to do a guest book, and some of the comments they make will make you cry," Zimmerman said.

They'll also make you appreciate what a home-grown business has meant to so many people of Utah for so many years.

Again, the final day of operation at the freeway store building will be this Saturday. After that, the remaining items will be moved to the downtown store on State Street.

The family expects most of the inventory to be sold by the end of the year.

E-mail: kmccord@ksl.com

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Keith McCord

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