Ruby Greene, longtime manager of Office Equipment Company, has decided to close the business located in the Valley Plaza on Lynn Rd. at the end of November after 30 years. Currently the stock is marked down significantly, and as the closing date approaches, shoppers can expect even deeper cuts.

Ruby and her husband Buddy opened their office supply store in Columbus in 1984 in the building that is currently Southern Manners Restaurant on the corner of Mills and S. Peak Streets. Buddy Greene passed away in August 2014 after a short illness.

“We started out sparse with our inventory, but over the years we grew in response to customers’ needs,” said Greene. Buddy, she said, managed the outside sales accounts, while she handled the day-to-day store traffic.

In 2006, they sold the building and moved to Valley Plaza. Their store was smaller, but it still provided inventory that their customers needed, according to Greene.

“We have always tried to offer the personal service that was needed at any time,” said Greene.

“Older people needed help with a lot of things and we were able to provide that,” she added. Additionally, she was able to offer items that the big box stores would not, such as selling a single envelope to a customer who did not need to buy a whole box.

“It’s hard to express how much this area has meant to my husband and I. We could not find more compassionate people toward us and our business. I am very sad that I have to close,” said Greene.

Greene said that since her husband died, she is not able to continue the store without him. Since he had managed outside sales, she said she cannot continue that in addition to managing the store. While the move to the location in Lynn was a positive one for the business especially in terms of parking, Greene said that as a retail store, business is not consistent.

The store is located at 2060 Lynn Rd. and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of the month.