By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Taylor’s Stationery has been Needham’s most beloved store for paper goods.
However, March 3 will mark the end of an era, as owners and siblings Jack McQuillan and Maureen Fitzgerald have announced they will be closing the store and beginning their retirement.
“It’s time for us to say – while we’re on the top of our game – goodbye, so that we can be with our families and do fun things with them while we’re healthy and while we can,” said Jack.
The shop has been a prominent one in Needham center since 1939, when, according to Jack, Mr. Taylor established it. In 1972, Jack and Maureen’s parents bought the store from Taylor’s son and passed it down to the siblings in 1992.
Over the years, the shop has evolved from a paper and card store to feature gifts, home accents, office supplies, Needham memorabilia, party supplies, and bits and bobs.
After the siblings announced their retirement, they were met with an overwhelming response from their customers. With well wishes in their future endeavors both online and at the store, Jack and Maureen were reminded of how supportive the community has been.
“The last couple of weeks have been unbelievable,” Jack said. “The customers have been awesome, they’ve been very upset that we’re closing, but understanding.
“That’s the sad part for us, too, is that the customers have been wonderful and they’ve been with us for many, many years,” he continued, “They keep saying that it’s bittersweet: the bitter part is that we’re closing, but the sweet part is that we get to take time with our families.”
Ultimately, Jack and Maureen just found the timing right to close up shop. With Jack looking to travel more with his wife and visit his sons in New York and Georgia more often, and Maureen eager to spend time with her new grandson and visit her youngest son in Chicago, it was a necessary move to make.
While Jack could confidently say that both he and Maureen would be doing other things (though perhaps on a more flexible schedule), he also assures his customers that they would still be staying local.
“We’re going to miss everybody,” said Jack. “That’s the thing, you know. We loved our customers and our employees. We’ll still be around town, so we’ll still see them, but we just won’t be here,” he said, pointing at the store’s floorboards. “We feel badly that we’re leaving them, but on the other hand, it’s nice to try new adventures while we can.
“It’s been a wonderful 46 years for my entire family.”
