Hallmark Closes, Mayor Urges Shopping Local

shuttered its doors June 30, leaving its space near in North Diamond Bar.

The announcement came after Ralph's announced its pending closure in August and after closed its Diamond Bar store in April.

At a July 5 meeting of the city council, Mayor Steve Tye urged residents to shop locally in light of the departure.

"I can't stress enough how important it is to shop Diamond Bar whenever possible," Tye said. "Two of the retailers we have taken for granted — Jodie's Hallmark being one — have closed."

Previously, Tye said he would like to see further renovation in the area of that shopping center and the center across the street, but that the idea is a hope and not a plan.

"If we could take all of that office space and retail and just flatten it, that's got to be about 45 acres," Tye said in December. "That's freeway friendly, easy on and off, and now you've got something to work with that's brand-new."

Tye said redeveloping that center would be preferable to planning a commercial center on a 30-acre parcel in the south end of town, near the intersection of Brea Canyon Road and Diamond Bar Boulevard, called "Site D."

Tye said the city is still working with BARCO Management to find a national retailer for the space that will be vacated by Ralph's near Grand and Diamond Bar Boulevard.

No plans for the Hallmark store have been announced and at the former Blockbuster location, according to Deborah Collins with BARCO Management.