By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

A longtime retailer in the Big Creek Shopping Center, Claire’s has permanently closed after a new lease agreement could not be made between the store and DP Management.

“I got the call about 4 o’clock (Monday) afternoon,” said Shannon Christen, store manager.

Store employees are now packing up merchandise to be shipped to other locations.

While the store has been closed for two weeks, Christen said she did not think the store would be closed, but was afraid something was amiss after a week of being closed.

“We were kind of prepping ourselves for it,” she said.

Christen said the Hays location is the only Claire’s between Salina and Colorado Springs.

Check Hays Post for more about ongoing roof repairs at Big Creek Crossing and future development at the shopping center.