Garden Reflections at Clifton Square to close

WICHITA — Garden Reflections at Clifton Square is the latest Wichita business to be a victim of the economy.

A disappointed Terri Windsor plans to close her shop by the end of the year.

She opened at Clifton Square, which is at 3700 E. Douglas, in March 2007.

“Things went really, really well the first year,” Windsor says. “We exceeded our initial projections. We were stunned that it was doing so well for a little shop.”

She created a garden atmosphere with mulch and jute rugs on the floor and branches hanging from the ceiling. There were even garden sounds on her stereo.

“I had really, really good response,” Windsor says. “Some people come here just to get away because it’s so peaceful.”

Then, as gas prices rose in the spring of 2008, Windsor’s business went downhill.

“People weren’t spending money,” she says. “It’s just been a struggle ever since.”

Her inventory is now on sale.

Windsor says she won’t have the money to reopen.

And she doesn’t have the money to stay open now in hopes that the economy rebounds soon.

“It’s not important enough to me to go into debt on a what-if.”