Valentine’s Day downer: See’s shuttered at mall
Candy store closes its only Duke City location
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: See’s Candies has shuttered its only Albuquerque store at Coronado Center, which means fans are going to have to get their favorite Valentine a sweet fix online or from another confectioner.
A sign on the storefront door says “See’s is no longer in Coronado Center” and references the customer service office for any questions.
Coronado management could not be reached for comment.
Jensen DeWees, See’s Candies director of marketing, said the company “was unable to keep the existing lease” at Coronado but is looking “to relocate to a new permanent location” in Albuquerque at a future date.
In the meantime, customers can visit a “seasonal location” at 514 W. Cordova Road in Santa Fe where the candy company’s chocolates, toffees, lollypops and more still are on offer in the trademark black-and-white boxes. It’s not a store-store, but a pop-up retailer.
Or they can order a box of chocolates online.
“I always enjoyed getting a free sample” whenever I dropped by the store, said Teresa McGuire of Albuquerque.
McGuire first got wind of the closure when her hubby dropped by to “buy a nice Valentines Day” custom chocolate box, an annual tradition. The storefront doors were closed and the windows papered over. “Maybe they didn’t get enough business outside of the holidays” to justify having a brick-and-mortar location, suggested McGuire.
See’s has been in business since 1921, and its business model, where half of its 240 stores are located in malls, could be facing challenging times.
A retail analyst quoted in an August 2017 article in the Los Angeles Times said See’s will need to be innovative to maintain a sweet spot with consumers. The analyst suggested more kiosks and pop-up stores.