Although Feb. 15 has been designated the official closing date for Meridian’s Pier 1 Imports, some local residents say the fat lady hasn’t sung, yet.

“I don’t know if it will make a difference, but it can’t hurt to try,” said Linda Chambers, who has started a campaign to save the store located at Bonita Lakes Circle.

“They have such a great variety of merchandise,” said Chambers, who first learned of the closing while shopping at the Meridian store on New Year’s Eve.

“I was disappointed and surprised; I actually thought that store did pretty good,” she said.

According to the store’s Fort Worth, Texas, home office, Pier 1 regularly reviews new and existing store locations to assure they are operating as efficiently as possible.

“Where necessary, based on that review, we are making the strategic business decision to close certain locations,” said Whitney Rogers, Pier 1 Imports media relations specialist, in a release about the closing earlier this week.

“We disclose store closings on a case-by-case basis as they occur throughout the fiscal year,” Rogers said.

Not wanting to say goodbye to her favorite place to shop for holiday and gift items, Chambers immediately took action.

“I talked to customers in the store that night and told them to call the corporate headquarters and gave them the number,” she said. “I even told a lady outside in the parking lot about it.”

Chambers’ friend Lou Cobler not only called the number, but also started a “Saving Pier 1 in Meridian” group on her Facebook page. Fifty-five people have become members since the page was set up last Friday.

“It encourages people to call Pier 1 or e-mail them to just say, ‘Hey, we like your store, we want your store to stay here,'” Cobler said.

Upon hearing about the Meridian store’s demise from Chambers, Cobler said she, too, was surprised and heart sick.

“I do a lot of shopping there – personal and gifts,” she said. “I love everything they carry, from their furniture to their pillows, their home furnishings, dishes, it’s very affordable – I just love the whole store. It’s one of the main places I shop.”

The Meridian store originally opened January 1999 and currently has 11 employees.

Chambers said she felt somewhat hopeful when she called the corporate office to express her disappointment at the closing.

“They tell you when you call in that the more people who call and make their voice known it may help,” she said.

“We may not be able to keep it open, but it’s worth a try.”