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July 4 - July 17, 2015
Business
www.SanTanSun.com
Sibley’s West named DCCP 2015 Business of the Year gift baskets were reasons they were Sibley’s West, The Chandler and nominated and awarded,” Kaluga said. Arizona Gift Shop, was awarded the The Wolfes opened Sibley’s West in Downtown Chandler Community December 2010. Michelle is the brainchild Partnership’s 2015 Business of the Year behind the store, suggesting she and thanks to participation, contribution and her husband start a business after their engagement. children left the house. “Sibley’s West “I think if it had owners John and been the same Michelle Wolfe have thing that you been very active see everywhere it this past year with wouldn’t have been complementing our a reason to come monthly art walks,” down here and said Jeff Kaluga, find that,” Michelle DCCP executive said. “It needed to director. “Michelle be a destination, serves on the something that board of directors was unusual, that and community you couldn’t find foundation everywhere.” committee. Everything in John serves on the store is made the marketing by artists or small committee. They Sibley’s West owners John and Michelle businesses in Arizona. both provide a Wolfe were given the Downtown Chandler Sibley’s West opened voice for downtown Community Partnership’s 2015 Business of with 55 suppliers; the Year award. STSN photo by Tracy House that number has merchants.” The couple is increased to 221. The active and frequently contributes gift store has books, candles, clothing, wall baskets to the DCCP, which promotes art, food, candy, pottery and soaps and downtown and raises money for lotions, as well as many other items. nonprofits. “The combination of their Family name participation on the boards and Sibley’s West derives its name from committees, the engagement in the John’s family. “It goes back to Rochester, art walks and contributions to the New York,” he said. “In 1868 my grandfather,
BY TRACY HOUSE
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Downtown Chandler Community Partnership named Sibley’s West the 2015 Business of the Year. STSN photo by Tracy House
a Sibley, created a dry goods store with two friends.” The 28-year-old set out to seek his fortune and went west to Rochester. The success of the Sibley’s Department Store grew and was in Rochester for more than 100 years. Michelle suggested bringing back the family name for the Chandler shop. “I’m so glad we did,” John said. “We’ve probably had about 500 people from western New York that have come in and recognized the name, said something about it and shared some memory of theirs from the ‘60s or ‘70s of how they used to get dressed up to go shopping on the weekend. It’s been heartwarming to hear the positive comments about it, and if we can have a fraction of that, it would be great for us.” An original sign from the downtown Rochester store is displayed behind the counter at Sibley’s West and John said a Chandler resident gave them her Sibley’s charge card from the ‘90s. “In Chandler, Arizona, there’s this Rochester, New York, connection,” John said. Sense of camaraderie Michelle said the goal of Sibley’s West is to be part of the downtown culture. The connection of the downtown Chandler stores is strong. “It’s a place,” Michelle said. “We want to build a sense of place. That if you’re from Chandler, you think immediately downtown, and the restaurants and the people who are behind the locally owned businesses. They’re not chains, the owners are here, you see them everyday walking up and down the street, talking to each other. Talking about how things are going.
Promoting each other, supporting each other. It’s a great sense of community among the businesses, and I think that shows and draws people down.” Sibley’s West, and other participating shops in downtown Chandler, are continuing a summer promotion through July. Visit Sibley’s West for a card good for 10 percent off at one of the participating merchants. “It’s a chance to encourage people to visit other businesses,” John said. There is a “Shop free in July” promotion as well. Michelle explained that at the end of July, the store will find the average amount spent during the month, and on the day that has the closest dollar amount to that average, anyone who shopped on that day can bring in their receipt and get a gift certificate for the amount spent. DCCP hosts a monthly Art Walk, which is held indoors during the summer. The next art walk is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the Tech Shop on Chicago Street in downtown Chandler. “We always participate,” Michelle said. “We have extra artists that come. We rent an ad every art walk and promote. We try to draw people downtown and be part of what’s going on, and not just being impacted by what’s going on, but participate.” Sibley’s West is located at 72 S. San Marcos Pl., downtown Chandler. Visit www.sibleyswest.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/sibleyswest for more information. Tracy House is a freelancer for SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@ santansun.com.
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