Spokane ornament outlet store not opening for holiday season because of pandemic

With all of the business upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it stands to reason that Christmas 2020 likely won’t be the same for many – and that’s certainly the case for the Old World Christmas Factory Outlet in Spokane.

The company has more than 2,500 retail customers in the U.S. and many more abroad. It uses it’s outlet store, at 4005 E. Main Ave., as an annual way to spread Christmas cheer and give customers a chance to purchase glass Christmas ornaments at a discount.

However, because of the small area inside the outlet store and concerns for both customers and employee safety, the business will not open in October like it has since 1983.

“This was not an easy decision,” said Rob Waples, who supervises the outlet store. “The health of our customers and our employees are our main concerns.”

The company manufactures and distributes glass Christmas ornaments worldwide. The business, which has 30 full-time employees, will continue its online sales without layoffs even though it had to be shut down – like many businesses – during Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order.

But the outlet store, which is used by the company to sell returns, overstock and items at a 50% discount, will neither be decorated nor allow customers to shop in person.

“We have a really strong customer base in the Spokane area,” Waples said. “We also have customers that come over from the West Side and Europe to go to the outlet store.”

However, the outlet store’s space is somewhat cramped for the type of business it typically attracts, he said.

“Some weekends, there are people lined up outside our door just to get in during the fall,” Waples said. “They are shoulder to shoulder. People are picking up something, looking at it and putting it back in the bin.

“It would be impossible to practice social distancing,” he continued. “It wasn’t the prudent thing to do.”

The outlet store also has a Christmas in July event that was canceled earlier this year because of the pandemic and resulting shutdown. But the fall event really set the tone for the coming holiday season, he said.

“We really enjoy having that presence, that display that is so well lit up,” he said. “It’s that time of year. It gets people in the mood.”

While the outlet won’t be opening this fall, the company hopes to open the outlet store in the future.

“This is just for this season. The store is stocked and ready to go,” Waples said. “Hopefully, we will have a really good handle on this next summer. We are going to miss it.”