The Buzz: Famous Footwear closed, Lighting Concepts closing

This week the Buzz has a little less spring in its step.

RIP Famous Footwear in Auburn.

The national shoe store chain, which opened several years ago beside Kohl’s, has shut its doors. A company spokeswoman didn’t return a call Wednesday for comment about the closure.

However, among the Auburn building permit applications in late December: a $200,000 renovation project for 105 Mount Auburn Ave. described as “tenant fit-up, former Famous Footwear to be Spectrum.”

While we’re saying reluctant goodbyes

Lighting Concepts is closing Jan. 31 after 25 years on Sabattus Street.

“We found ourselves at a junction that required we make a hard decision,” President Mitch DeBlois said. “There’s no question that online shopping has negatively affected retail — many much larger organizations than our own are experiencing those problems.”

At the same time, he said, parent company DeBlois Electric needed more space.

“Rather than build an addition, we had to take a hard look at the profitability, now and in the future, of the Lighting Concepts’ retail showroom, and found it makes the most economic sense to close the retail operation and use that space for our office expansion,” DeBlois said.

Vice President Ray DeBlois said four of Lighting Concepts’ employees will have positions at DeBlois Electric. They’ve helped the three others find new work.

Lighting Concepts’ Portland design center had already closed after the company was approached by The Lighting Center of New Hampshire, which was looking to expand into the market and wanted to take over that space.

Mitch DeBlois said he’s excited about DeBlois Electric’s plans, which include converting the showroom into “collaborative work space, a much-needed conference room, and a state-of-the-art education and workforce development center for our employees.”

And now, hello

The Center for Wisdom’s Women’s Sophia’s House is officially underway — or will be, as soon as the federal government is back in business.

Executive Director Klara Tammany said all but $168,000 has been raised in the $1.7 million capital campaign for the project, which will turn 134 Blake St. into a long-term safe haven for women recovering from addiction, sex trafficking and incarceration. The former St. Patrick’s convent will have a mix of rooms and apartments and help with housing, health care, mental health and legal services.

Funding has come from sources, including a $500,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston with Norway Savings Bank as the sponsor, $50,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation and $150,000 from Community Development Block Grant funds.

“We have a big chunk pending for historic preservation tax credits,” Tammany said. It’s temporarily held up by the federal shutdown. “Remediation work can start any time now, pending EPA approval to go ahead, also affected by the federal closure so we are waiting for that, too. Hoping within the next couple of weeks.”

Contractor Hebert Construction plans to finish in September.

“It is exciting! And none too soon,” Tammany said. “We have had a couple of break-ins of the convent recently with the snowy, cold weather.”

Quick hits about business comings, goings and happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact staff writer Kathryn Skelton at 207-689-2844 or kskelton@sunjournal.com.