‘The Little Store That Could’

Black Ink to Close Swarthmore Storefront, Pivot to Only Online Sales

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

After 25 years—at multiple locations across the Village—Black Ink is closing its storefront on Swarthmore Avenue at the end of June, but owner Patti Black is looking forward to the future of the brand.

“It’s just time,” Black wrote about the changes for the stationery and gift store in an email shared with clients, customers and friends. “We are pivoting to an online only store.”

Black detailed the store’s history, from when it first opened on June 15, 1998, through present day, noting that the past year, the store saw its biggest sales ever. She also operates a wholesale division of Black Ink, which she shared grew “three times over COVID.”

A former CBS news producer, Black shared that she has always been a “paper lover”—she went to “an artsy high school in Hollywood” and “wanted to design custom invitations,” which led her to opening a “fine stationery store” in the Palisades.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” Black said. “I dove in head first, not knowing what the future would bring. Never in a million years did I anticipate what was to come.”

Black shared that the Palisades community supported her and kids through a number of things, including the sudden loss of her husband in 2001, the financial crisis of 2008 and internet shopping, which wiped out “a good percentage of small stationery stores.”

Since opening, Black expanded the brand by designing and manufacturing a wholesale line of luxe notepads, which debuted in May 2012 and has grown to be sold at 600 stores across the U.S.

“Lack of sales is not the reason I am closing,” she confirmed. “I am very excited about this and hope you will all visit our new fantastic gift website, which launches in early July.”

Currently, Black Ink’s “entire luxe notepad line” is available online, but Black said to “wait to see what we have in store.”

“We’re working hard to make it so that you’ll still be able to order your Black Ink favorites,” she explained, “our luxe notepads and trays, the personalized notepad sets, canvas bags, cutting boards, leather luggage tags, and much, much more.”

Black is hosting a clearance sale at the store, which began on Monday, June 19—with people lined up outside “like Disneyland” to shop—and will extend to Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She will host a soirée at Black Ink on Wednesday, June 28, from 4 to 6 p.m.

“This little store did the impossible,” Black shared. “It enabled me to keep my family going—the mortgage paid, the tuition paid, the prom dresses purchased, the dance classes paid for, the baseball uniforms bought, the trips planned, the lives lived.”

Going forward, while running the online shop, Black shared plans of being “ready and able to get on with another type of life,” which includes travel, adventure and more time spent with her grandchildren.

“I want you all to know how much I appreciate your business, but more importantly, what your friendship and support have meant to me all of these years,” Black wrote. “I will never be able to fully express my gratitude for the last 25 years of your support.”

More information about the online shop is available at shop.blackinkca.com.