Building Blocks to Dismantle

After about three years selling a motley assortment of art and art supplies on Route 7 in Branchville, Building Blocks' Paul Gervais is closing shop at the end of next month.

"The decision was reached based on the fact that the numbers are not there," said Gervais, a Ridgefielder and former IBM project manager who left the corporate life to turn his focus to the arts.

Dubbing the revenue drop a recession casualty, Gervais said that there has been as much as a 50 percent sales decline when comparing this year and last year's figures. He also traced his decision to close to a rise in online art supplies sales, saying he can't compete with Internet discounts even though he tried to keep his wares priced in line with bigger craft chains like Michael's.

Either way, everything at Building Blocks except art pieces is now on sale to help liquidate the stock before closing.

Gervais, who is on the Ridgefield Arts Council, said he plans to remain in the art world, hopefully working with artists to arrange exhibits in alternative viewing spaces like restaurants. He already organizes art displays for the Perennial Chef's Ridgefield location.