Maison Morgan ends 38 years in Hartselle

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The retirement of Mack Taylor at the end of this month will bring to a close Maison Morgan Department Store, an anchor in Hartselle’s Morgan Plaza Shopping Center for more than 38 years. Taylor, 81, has been an employee and owner of retail businesses continuously for 64 years.
Taylor announced his retirement and a liquidation of Maison Morgan’s stock and fixtures last week, beginning the day after Christmas. He said business activity last weekend was beyond his highest expecations and it looks like the store’s stock will be cleaned out in less than a month.
Taylor said the current recession was not a factor in his decision to retire and close the business.
“I love the business and there’s nothing I’d rather do than to continue, but that’s just not feasible because of my age and health.”
No plans have been announced for the building. It is owned by a California-based company and managed by Gateway Development.
Taylor’s son, Lynn Taylor, is president and general manager. He began working at the store in 1972 and returned after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force. He said he has no definite plans for employemnt after the store closes.
Maison Morgan opened at its present location on Nov. 27, 1970, with John Guier and Orval Sparkman as co-owners and a staff of more than 40 employees. About a year later, Taylor joined the business as a co-owner and manager.
Taylor got his start in retail as a part-time employee of a clothing store in Athens when he was a teenager. His job was mostly washing windows and sweeping floors. He worked at two other clothing stores before joining Maison Morgan.
Taylor bought out his partners in 1980 when the store had locations in both Hartselle and Decatur.
A downsizing of the store’s operations began in 1987 with the closing of the Decatur store and the phasing out of junior s and children’s departments, home accessories, china, luggage and formal wear. A reduction in floor space from 24,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. also took place.
Taylor said he credited an emphasis on customer service in large part for the store’s survival and success at a time when big box stores in the malls were attracting younger buyers.