Beckman Gallery to close after 26 years

After 26 years of business on Newton’s town square, Beckman Gallery will be closing Saturday.

Custom framing, unique home decor, paintings and jewelry are among the many items the gallery is known for. After careful consideration, store owner Jim Beckman said he will be wrapping up his business in Newton and will be focusing on his larger store that is located in Grinnell.

Beckman moved to Newton from Perry in the early 1990s and opened the shop on the square after taking ownership from the Fisher family.

Beckman said when he bought the store from Bob and Doris Fisher the community welcomed him with open arms.

“A postman approached me the second or third Friday I was here, looked at me and jokingly said ‘you don’t have red and black on today, you won’t last long in this town,’” Beckman said. “Back in those days you always wore red and black.”

Though the store has changed throughout the years, the friendliness of the owner and his dedication to the community has been very apparent.

Beckman Gallery has been a part of the square’s traditions by participating in the “shop local” events, various holiday events and fundraisers. The gallery is known for donating to the Walk for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters and for donating gift cards for various charity events.

Beckman said he is thankful for the great employees he has had throughout the years.

“Cheryl Moredock has been my right hand,” Beckman said.

The store is offering closing sales on almost all items in the store and shoppers have filtered in and out this month when they found out the news.

“Everyone has been in and wishing me well,” Beckman said. “I’m living in Grinnell and have a store over there that I’m consolidating with.”

Beckman said the store posted on Facebook the beginning of June about the closure. The newly remodeled store in Grinnell will be called Beckman Gallery & Gifts and is at 912 Main Street.

Beckman said that people may think he’s leaving Newton because of the economy but that isn’t the case.

“I just want to slow down a little bit — when I turned 70 I had some eye cancer and it definitely gives you a different perspective on things when you have something like that go on,” Beckman said.

Beckman said Newton has been a great community in which to have a store.

“I want to thank everybody for their support and there are lots of fond memories, friends and I’ve just really enjoyed being here,” Beckman said. “It’s just time to slow down a little bit.”

Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com