We hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it looks as though Tempe's Wet Paint is going to be closing after all.
As we've previously reported, the iconic Ash Avenue art supply store and street culture haven was originally supposed to shut its doors back in July. Then, owner Jessica Jordan (who's served up paints and pigments at her shop for the past 11 years) wound up calling off the closure at the last second after two potential deals to sell the place fell through.
Turns out it was only a temporary stay of execution. According to statements on Wet Paint's Facebook page, the store will close for good around the middle of next month. And this time they mean it.
See also: Tempe's Wet Paint Artist Supply to Close in July See also: Wet Paint Artist Supply to Stay Open
Back in early July, Jordan told Jackalope Ranch she was nixing the closure, keeping the shop open for the time being, and hoping to "ride it out" while negotiating an "open-ended" lease with their property's landlord.
While time she didn't rule out that Wet Paint would be around forever, at that time Jordan seemed somewhat optimistic and happy to keep the store running.
"We're talking to our landlord [and] she's really cool. Instead of signing like a five-year lease we're going to work something else out," she said in July. "Nothing's guaranteed yet and I can't comment too much. She told us to hang tight, see how we feel, and we'll talk later, which is pretty much where we're at."
When we spoke to Jordan two weeks ago for a blog about Wet Paint's new found object recycling program, she made nary a mention about the possibility of closing the store. So imagine our shock when this past Friday, however, a post on the store's Facebook page implied that the place was up for sale once again and that Jordan was looking for a buyer.
wanna own an art store? live the dream? seriously have time and money to invest? contact [email protected]. no tire kickers. must have funding ready. must be approved by landlord.
Yesterday, a second Facebook update stated that the store was having a clearance sale on its paints and paper ("EVERYTHING MUST GO GO GO") and that the doors would be locked for good less than six weeks from now.
Our last days ( for real this time :)) will be in mid november so come on down and save some cash and support your local art shop... while you can.
Jackalope Ranch has repeatedly been unable to reach Jordan, as well as to longtime Wet Paint employee Adam "Dumperfoo" Dumper, for further comment or a full explanation on the closure.
As we reported earlier this year, Jordan has plans to complete her bachelor's and master's degrees in the field of Horticulture and Restoration Ecology.