The Merchandiser closes after printing final edition
After 73 years in enterprise, the Merchandiser has closed its doorways and is promoting the corporate.
House owners Carol Smith, Sue Longenecker and George Kapp of Kapp Promoting Service Inc., which revealed the Merchandiser, stated in a posted discover that the paper’s Dec. 27 version can be the corporate’s final.
The discover stated the house owners had made the powerful resolution to place the enterprise up on the market and cease printing the Merchandiser.
“Each house owners and workers wish to thank our advertisers and readers…in your a few years of loyal readership,” the discover stated.
Previous to the Merchandiser’s closure, the free neighborhood paper was delivered weekly to 230,000 properties all through central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, in keeping with the corporate’s web site.
The paper provided industrial and personal get together labeled promoting, in addition to weekly options together with eating and leisure, the cooking nook, obituaries and the neighborhood and public public sale calendars. `
It was based in 1948 by Lestor Benson and offered to Robert S. Kapp in 1950, when it had a circulation of two,300 properties.
Initially situated on West Fundamental Road in Myerstown, the enterprise ultimately expanded to supply eight native editions in Western Berks, Hershey, Lebanon, Myerstown, Gettysburg, Hanover, Hampstead/Manchester, and Northern Adams/York.
On the time of closing, the Merchandiser operated out of two buildings — a 26,100-square-foot industrial and workplace constructing at 100 E. Cumberland Road, Lebanon, and a 19,000-square-foot warehouse at 6 Pine Road, Hanover.
The Lebanon location is listed for $1.85 million, and the Hanover location for $1.95 million, in keeping with realtor Joshua Miller of Bennet William Industrial, which is dealing with the sale of the properties and enterprise.
“We’ve had many showings at each properties already. There was loads of curiosity thus far,” Miller stated.
The enterprise is promoting for $750,000, and house owners are additionally promoting paper, ink, and different printing stock for $140,000, and furnishings, fixtures and gear — similar to vans, printing presses, desks, and computer systems — for $1.4 million, in keeping with Miller.
The Western Berks version of the Merchandiser has been revealed since 1971.
It was delivered to 33,528 Berks households in Mohnton, Wernersville, Shillington, Sinking Spring, Wyomissing, West Garden, West Studying, Reinholds, Morgantown, Robesonia, Womelsdorf, Studying, Mount Penn, Exeter, Denver and East Earl.