Davidson College will take over the gnome shop on Main Street. (David Boraks photo)

For the past couple of years, a sign on the once-buzzing Tom Clark Museum at 131 N. Main St. has read “Closed for Vacation.” A self-portrait by Dr. Clark on the window is signed “Thanks for everything Davidson.” Now those puzzling messages are about to come down.

On Wednesday, Davidson College officials announced they’ve signed a one-year lease on the retail storefront, where they plan to open a Davidson College “Spirit Shop.” The shop, which is to open in August, will sell college logo clothing and souvenirs.

Sign on the Clark Museum door.

But the gnome museum and shop, which once sold figurines made by Cairn Studios, isn’t disappearing entirely. The college said the second floor of the building will become a museum of Dr. Clark’s gnomes and other figurines.

Dr. Clark was a Davidson College religion professor from 1958 to 1985. He turned his love of sculpture into a booming business selling limited edition figurines.

The Tom Clark Museum once hosted thousands of visitors a year, some arriving on tour buses. But the business declined in recent years, and the museum and retail shop eventually closed. Since then, many in town have wondered might become of the site, a prime retail space downtown.

Sandy Lemons said she has been deluged by questions about the vacant gnome museum since becoming the town’s downtown director 18 months ago. “I’m excited. I had happy tears when I found out” about the college shop.

She said the college’s decision to lease the space is an important development on the sleepy north end of Main Street, where Cairn Studios also keeps offices in storefronts. Although no other announcements have been made about what might become of Cairn’s other storefronts, Ms. Lemons hinted that more could be on the way.

“It’s a perfect use of the space, in that we’re going to be having a college presence on Main Street. It just opens up opportunities for that entire block,” Ms. Lemons said.

She said Cairn executive Joe Poteat and Dr. Clark have been “very supportive” of the college’s plans.

DOWNTOWN PRESENCE

David Holthouser, Davidson’s director of physical plant, said in a press release Wednesday that as yet unnamed spirit shop would give the college an additional and highly visible retail sales presence downtown.

Tom Clark's thank you.

The college said it will keep its on-campus bookstore in the Alvarez College Union, where it has been since that building opened in 2001. The Alvarez facility has 3,750 square feet of retail space, and the new shop will be 1,500 square feet.

Gwen Gardner, manager of the college bookstore, said in the press release, “We’ve been very happy with sales at the Alvarez Union bookstore, but many people who come to town don’t ever find us. We’re hoping that the Main Street location will open up a whole new market for us from people passing through town.”

The new location will not offer the textbooks and office supplies found in the Alvarez store, but will feature imprinted college clothing, glassware, and mugs. Gardner said the store may also explore other college-related services, such as ticket sales to college events and cookies and gift baskets from the college’s Much Ado catering service.

Hours will probably be Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The building at 131 N. Main St. was built in 1914 and operated as White’s Drug Store, then as Parks Rexall Drug Store from 1965 until its purchase by Tom Clark in 1984.

The college plans to preserve as much of the building’s historical architectural features as possible in the renovation. The space will also be freshly carpeted and painted inside and out, and merchandising racks and exterior signage will be installed.

Because the building is downtown, exterior work must be approved by the Town Design Review Board, which will consider the work at its meeting next Wednesday, June 17.

The storefront at 131 N. Main has been shut for the past couple of years.