Evergreen Vann's store closing next month

Though Vann’s electronics and appliances has been hunting for a new location since April — when it lost its lease for the Evergreen store — location manager Heath Childree said he has been unable to find a suitable spot in the area.

So Vann’s has decided to leave the Flathead Valley market — but possibly only temporarily.

“When the market lends the opportunity, rest assured we will be watching closely to re-enter,” Childree said.

Childree said the community has been extremely helpful in trying to work with Vann’s for a new Kalispell site, but in the end nothing quite worked for the store’s needs.

“There couldn’t have been a stronger presence of support for Vann’s,” Childree said. 

Vann’s will close the doors at the Evergreen location on June 15. Remaining merchandise will be discounted before then, with store hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The seven employees in Evergreen have been offered the opportunity to transfer to the two remaining Vann’s stores in Bozeman or Billings or another Vann’s property, the ON store in the Southgate Mall in Missoula.

Childree emphasized that Vann’s products still are available to Flathead Valley customers through Vanns.com and at the remaining Montana stores. The contractor business has been crucial to Vann’s and will be one of the primary focal points of the Bozeman headquarters, Childree said.

Vann’s in Missoula will close on May 30; the Hamilton store closed this spring. 

Vann’s Acquisition LLC, which purchased the chain of stores for $4.5 million after Vann’s filed for bankruptcy last year, was unable to come up with a deal with Vann’s founder Pete Vann to stay in three buildings he owns, including the Evergreen store.  

According to the Associated Press, Pete Vann said the new owners sought a 40-percent reduction in the lease price.