Black Amethyst Relocation

Hi, I'm Melanie the Owner of Black Amethyst. We have been in Business for 5 years and housed inside of the Pemberton for the 3. Last week, after many rumors, we were officially informed that the Pemberton will be shutting down. Unfortunately this leaves myself and staff in an impossible situation. We have less than 60 days to find, fund, and move into a new space. Though I am a business owner (in this economy) I too live "pay check to paycheck" or month to month, and this unexpected change puts me, as a single mother and sole caretaker, as well as my staff and their families at a serious risk. Over the past year I saved all extra funds to move into a new space, where I would be able to offer more of my services to the community in addition to what is currently offered; however all of that savings was spent to survive one of the toughest retail summers here in Phoenix. Now that we are through it and things are starting to turn around we are being displaced in no time at all. Black Amethyst is what it is today as a result of me quitting my corporate job almost 6 years ago, and working 3 part time jobs simultaneously in order to save enough to open the physical space. Literal sweat, blood, and tears have been shed along this journey. Black Amethyst is the true definition of a small/tiny business. But we've managed to become a staple in the community even winning Phoenix Best rock and gem of 2023, now less than a year later we are facing closure simply because the property where we are housed is selling/closing. Moving a retail space is expensive and time consuming, we just haven't been given enough time or notice to realistically do so on our own. We need our community to rally and support us now more than ever. This isn't just a business, its our livelihoods, it's the security of our futures, the way I am able to provide for my children, its a community hub, and what's happening right now feels like a slap in the face, like an injustice, like what we've worked so hard for is being taken away and it deserves to be saved.