Downtown Norwood Anchor Kline’s Department Store Faces Imminent Closure by Year’s End Without a Buyer-October 26, 1994

20-Year Downtown Staple at 678 Washington St. Put Up for Sale by Parent Company

Kline’s Department Store, the largest retail business and economic anchor of downtown Norwood for two decades, faces closure by the end of 1994 if a prospective buyer is not found. Company President Harold Inlow announced from the Cleveland, Ohio, headquarters yesterday that Kline’s parent organization—The Kline Companies, the retail division of Bobbie Brooks Inc.—has put all 26 of its department stores up for sale due to retail revenues falling short of operating costs.

“We don’t have an offer on the table,” Inlow stated. “If we don’t have one sometime by the end of 1994, we’re looking to close the business.” The nationwide closures would impact approximately 700 employees, including about 30 local workers at the Norwood branch, according to store manager Marilyn Wolfson.

Workers were notified of the impending sale two weeks prior, casting a pall over the store. Wolfson, who has worked at the location for 24 years and managed it for the last three, noted that employee lives and business plans are on hold, with staff experiencing “sadness and confusion.” Unlike neighboring shops decked out for the upcoming holiday season, Kline’s sales floor remains noticeably bare of Thanksgiving and Christmas displays.

Local Business Leaders Warn of “Devastating” Impact on Washington Street Foot Traffic

The potential departure of the classic Main Street department store—which originally succeeded the former Parke Snow Department Store in the early 1970s—sends shockwaves through the local business community.

“Not having a store of that caliber will be harmful,” warned David Mahn, executive director of the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce. Neighboring merchants echoed those fears; Jeff Kaplan, owner of Curtain Time at 686 Washington St. adjacent to Kline’s, noted, “The center of town that is dependent on Kline’s foot traffic will suffer.”

Shoppers voiced deep affection for the downtown landmark’s personalized service. Westwood resident Sheila Cummings, shopping with her 11-year-old daughter Diane, bypassed major Route 1 malls in Dedham and Walpole to patronize the store. “Malls are too big. It’s easier to shop here,” Cummings said. “You get to know the people. The service is much more personalized.”

Challenges of Releasing Large Retail Space and Push for a Downtown Partnership

Town officials and commercial experts point out that attracting another major department store to the three-story Washington Street building will be exceptionally difficult. Modern retail trends favor large-format department stores anchored in suburban malls with expansive parking lots, rather than traditional downtown districts with limited on-street parking.

The crisis has galvanized local leaders to accelerate downtown revitalization efforts. The Norwood Washington Street Partnership—led by Town Planner Steve Costello—is scheduled to meet tonight from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Norwood Hospital to elect board members, draft bylaws, and strategize on securing private funding and state grants.

“We need a partnership now more than ever,” Mahn emphasized, underscoring the urgent need to unite business owners, town officials, and residents to safeguard downtown Norwood’s commercial future.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger