TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - After 12 years in business, a local antique store is closing it's doors. The Copper Country Antique store welcomed customers for its final day of business today.
Phillip Gaillard opened the antique mall on Speedway and Rosement a decade ago. Although he managed to keep his customers happy, he says its time to shut it down.
"I don't see the economy turning around for a long time," said Gaillard.
From gumball machines and vintage posters to kick-knacks of all sorts, there's always something new to find. But, Phillip attributes his lack of success to the city of Tucson.
"No one from the city has ever came in that front door and said, 'Phillip, thank you for creating jobs, business, it's always coming through the front door with, you're in violation of this you're in violation of that."'
He adds the final straw for him was when the city took him to court over a sign he had out front. Phillips says it's the culture of Tucson's city officials that continues to drive small businesses out.
"Look up and down Speedway, look up and down," said Gaillard. It's nothing but empty building after empty building, for lease for sale, and those were all little businesses there at one time."
Phillip says he now plans to move to Dallas, Texas to help rebuild houses that were devastated by recent storms.
