Today I got to visit The Chalkboard and it was a sight to behold. It’s funny. I have seen Norma Ireland at the NSSEA show for so many years, and in the back of my mind I always think “Oh yeah. The Chalkboard.”
Now I really have some kind of visual imprint to draw on. I have seen this “Educational Super Store”, been inside and had the experience.
Although Norma wasn’t available during my visit, I was pleased to meet with Joann Stockenberg, the buyer. Joann has been with the Chalkboard for the past twenty years. She recounted that at the time she first started the The Chalkboard was packed into 1,600 sq. feet of space. Since that time the original store has grown to be over 16,000 square feet with a second store in Aurora and a third and fourth opening up this spring in Downer’s Grove and Batavia.
Click to enlarge photos
Joann Stockenburg, manager [top left], Inside the store [top right], Betty, a sales associate [bottom left] and Outside the store [bottom right].
Congratulations to The Chalkboard for a very impressive and comprehensive display of educational resources!
I still had quite a bit of driving to do before retiring for the evening. Hopping into the van I started my trek towards Kalamazoo, Michigan.