Otter Nature Store to call it quits after 18 years
The slumping economy is claiming another victim.
After 18 year of business, the Otter Nature Store in downtown Vacaville will close its doors this summer.
“We sell what are ‘extra’ things for people,” explained store owner Betty Lucke. “They need to buy their food and gas and insurance first and the extras come after that. “
With the economy the way it is, costs continuing to rise for basic necessities, and the increase in competition from internet commerce, Lucke said her store can no longer compete.
She plans to shut the doors for good at the end of June.
Lucke opened the store in July 1990 on Merchant Street, just a few doors down from where it will be closing at the end of June. After a few years in downtown Vacaville, she moved the store to Westfield Solano mall but moved back to downtown Vacaville in 2003.
“After I was away for a while, I realized with a great community the downtown was,” she said. “People work together to make things happen and with the (Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District) things have improved a lot.”
In fact, Lucke said she plans to continue her volunteer work downtown with events such as the popular Medieval Fantasy Festival and Earth Expo.
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