Framestyles by Arlene Closing After 23 Years

For the past 23 years, Framestyles by Arlene has occupied the same storefront at 612 Collings Ave.

Now, shop owner Arlene Oden sits behind the L-shaped countertop, half of her wall-to-wall frame samples removed, a large "Store Closing, up to 75 percent off," sign hanging on the front window.

Oden, who owns her lot in the strip center, can't peg a close date until the space is sold.

"The very first time I noticed business slow down was Christmastime of 2001," she said. "It picked up again for a while after that, but then it began to slow down again. And it's been on a steady decline ever since."

She takes an upright, three-ring portfolio from its spot on the counter, flips through the pages in one, swift motion.

"This is 25 years of my life, right here," she said, motioning to the photos.

But her journey began long before Oden opened the Collingswood Framestyles in 1987.

Oden had been working in retail management for another frame company, a position that didn't expose her to the art of framing.

While there, she learned how to frame, and her passion was born.

When that company moved out of state, Oden got a job working as a framer in another shop. After six years, Oden's then-husband said she should consider opening her own shop.

"So I called my Realtor and told him to find me a place. He called back, told me to open my checkbook, and we moved into this space on Collings Avenue six months later, we bought this space," Oden said. 

Ever since Framestyles by Arlene opened on October 4, 1987, Oden has been offering custom framing work and retail merchandise in Collingswood's Theater District. 

Just over year ago, Oden decided to put the lot on the market. But it wasn't until 2011 that she hung a "Store Closing, up to 75 percent off," sign on the window.

"In the end, what's killing me is my property taxes," she said, glancing around the empty shop. "And the decline in traffic hasn't helped."

Now that closing signs are up, Oden is focusing on clearing out the space.

"The up to 75 percent off discounts do not apply to custom framing. And yes, I'm absolutely still taking custom framing orders," she said. "The discounts are on merchandise. I put that sign up because I have to sell all this inventory.

"I've been doing this for a good part of my life. I've watched my customers' kids grow up, and now they are coming in with their own kids," said Oden. "It's upsetting. If things would pick up around here, I wouldn't have to leave."