Main Street Art and Framing to close sometime in April

Joe Kalmick, owner of Main Street Art and Framing, is hanging up the framing shop after doing business in Seal Beachs for 39 years. For one thing, the building is being sold and either he would be forced to close or the rent would become untenable. He and his wife also want to travel and spend time together. “It was probably time to want to retire,” he said.

The business is expected to close in early April.

“We had hoped to sell the business and keep the name and location intact, but this was no longer in the cards,” he said.

Kendall and Doug Waller, the owners of the Art Images gallery, will acquire the assets of the framing business and that service will now be part of the Art Images store’s operation. Kalmick said that for long time customers of the frame shop, the transition will be seemless. Kalmick said he would be available by appointment to work with his old customers at the shop.

He said the new ownership is interested in keeping the same selection and service that his shop has provided over the decades.

“As for the kibbutzers, they can just come and see me on the boardwalk,” he said.

Kalmick and his wife bought the shop in 1977 from Don Hadley, when the business was called “Frames by Don.” He’d made the decision to stop working in sales and marketing management for the furniture industry.

“My goal was to ride my bike to work and enjoy living in Old Town 24-7,” Kalmick said.

“Our shop became kind of a meeting place to stop by and find out what was going on in town,” he said.

The business grew over time. many close personal friendships started out as business relationships.

“Which has been an added bonus,” Kalmick said.

He said many customers were left to lock up the shop while he and his late brother Fred went off to respond to emergencies as volunteer firefighters.

Kalmick served as a volunteer firefighter for 30 years. The Orange County Fire Authority radically reduced the volunteer service in 2010.

The Seal Beach volunteer service was eliminated at that time.

That same year, Kalmick ran for the District One City Council seat. The race led to a runoff election between Kalmick and Ellery Deaton, who ultimately won.

Kalmick said he is not going back into city politics, though he does remain interested and will express his opinions at council meetings.

As for Main Street, where he worked for almost four decades, Kalmick is optimistic.

“I think Main Street is moving into a period of prosperity,” he said. New businesses have opened and according to Kalmick, some seem to be doing well; the restaurant choices and food have improved tremendously.

He also said there seems to be more foot traffic on Main Street.