A long time home to flea markets, gun & knife shows, and pretty much every other kind of event, the Mt. Clemens Weekend Market location of the Gibraltar Trade Center is closing at the end of August.

“The decision to close this part of our business after 37 years has been extremely difficult to make and announce,” president and CEO Bob Koester said in a statement. “The impact on the many small businesses and our employees is very disappointing for everyone involved.”

As consumers move more and more to online sources to purchase things – even used items – physical stores of many kinds are taking the hit. Nationally, 89,000 retail jobs have been lost since October of 2016 and the business press is filled with the announcements of store after store shuttering locations.

“Market factors played the most significant role in this decision. The impact of online sales on small brick and mortar businesses is substantial,” said Koester. “Declining revenue and sales are forecast to continue to accelerate in the years to come.”

This isn’t the end of the line for the company. Gibraltar Rug and Furniture Outlet in Warren will continue to operate with plans to add three more locations throughout the area. Also, Gibraltar Gun and Knife Shows will continue on.

The weekend market part of the Gibraltar business has been in operation since 1980, when a now shuttered location in Taylor opened. The Mt. Clemens location opened in 1990.