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Business & Tech

The Weathered Crow Flies Again

Owner of downtown décor shop gets another chance to fly thanks to the help of family members.

It is with difficulty that dreams are realized. They are difficult to hold on to, and even more difficult to let go. But sometimes dreams are resurrected. A little store in downtown Grayslake is an example of one such dream which does not have to be given up.

Agnes Clark had been a retail store manager for years when she made the decision to fly solo with the opening of her own shop in Grayslake. With her love of folk art and primitive décor in mind, Clark dreamed up The Weathered Crow and opened its doors in October 2009.

“The best part of having a business in Grayslake is the wonderful people and the small town feel,” Clark had said. “There is a great sense of pride and community in Grayslake, and I am happy to be a part of it.”

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Sadly, with the weak economy, it was a struggle to keep The Weathered Crow open. Clark eventually had to make another choice and this time decided to close her shop. On Jan. 10, 2011, Patch ran an highlighting Clark's journey from the beginning of The Weathered Crow until its presumed end. The Weathered Crow was having all sorts of sales until the merchandise was gone.

It has been just over a month since that article ran, but Clark's fortunes have changed, and The Weathered Crow flies on.

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“We were going to close because of the rough economy,” Clark said. “But with the help of family members we decided to give it a little more time. One year was not enough.”

In light of the near closure of her store, Clark said that The Weathered Crow will discontinue some lines that didn't quite fit the décor of the shop and will carry some others instead.

“We are very excited about going forward and all the positive feedback that we have received from customers. People should continue to shop here because of our dedication to keeping lines that are not found in big box stores and our effort to stock products that are made in the USA,” Clark said.

Clark was born near Pittsburgh, PA but grew up in Waukegan. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from the and also attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She is married, and her 17-year-old daughter attends Grayslake Central High School.

The Weathered Crow is located at 101 Center Street next to The Vine. For more information, call 847-231-6030.

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