A large retail store in downtown La Crosse is closing its doors.

Dan Wettstein, owner of Wettstein’s at 215 3rd Street North, announced Thursday that they are closing their retail store and service business.

The company has 35 full and part-time employees.

As part of the closing, Wettstein’s is selling their lighting store to Gerhard’s Kitchen and Bath Store. It will move to Gerhard’s current location on Cameron Avenue.

The building will also be for sale.

In a statement, Wettstein said the changing retail and online scene affected the store. “The retail landscape has changed dramatically and many brick and mortar stores are struggling. The internet has changed the way people shop and it has reduced profits for both chain stores and independent retailers alike. As well as sales tax issues from internet sales that have drastically hurt overall retail sales revenues and profits.”

Wettstein’s was opened in 1951 by Howard and Marie Wettstein. They later sold the business to their son Dan. They moved to their current location on 3rd St. in 1962.

“When you think of downtown stores, Wettsteins is top of mind,” comments Vicki Markussen, executive director of La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce in a statement. “The Wettsteins are what you want in all local small businesses — you walk in as a prospective customer and you leave feeling like family, not a number. The Wettsteins and their employees are your neighbors, your fellow community members and your friends. They never compromised on what they knew they could do better than any online competitor — provide exceptional customer service. They leave with that outstanding reputation intact.”

A statement from the Wettstein’s said that they will close at the end of August or after their inventory has been liquidated.

The statement said that the closing does not affect Industrial Automation and Engineering and Wettstein Brothers Electric.