Riddle Home & Gift closes

After nearly a year of uncertainty, Riddle Home & Gift closed the doors of its Burlington, N.C., facility April 11. A source close to the company said employees were told the closing plans the day before.

Bob Jordan of Anderson, Bauman, Tourtellot, Vos & Co., the management firm that has been operating the company for about eight months was unavailable for comment at press time. Former owner Tim Riddle, now affiliated with St. Mark's Church, said he had been away from the company since July and had no further comment.

Two sources said parts of the business had been sold last year and that the company offices were to be moved from its Burlington headquarters to an outlying office park.

"I think some of that business got sold to another group," said Mac Williams, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. "Riddle has been in the process of closing. I don't think it's operating under Riddle anymore but there may be some activity still going on in that building. The building's for sale; whether or not something will be occurring within the building that's under the new ownership or whether they're going to do something different, I don't know that I could tell you."