How do you say goodbye to an old friend, or thousands for that matter? It's not an easy thing to do but I'm going to try.

My parents, Harry and Cindy Friel, opened Cindy's Hallmark in 1979. Their philosophy was simple: Work hard and treat everyone with respect. Our customers, employees, and vendors were always our top priority.

During our 34 years in business, Cindy's was an incredibly successful venture and the most gratifying career I could have ever hoped for. We were blessed over the years to have such kind, hard working, and dedicated employees. Our loyal customers and amazing employees made Cindy's a very special place.

It's because of our gratitude to our dedicated customers and hardworking employees that we feel it's necessary to address the recent rumor that our "doors were closed with no known explanation and no warning."

On July 1, I sold the business to another family-owned Hallmark dealer from the Boston area that shares our basic business philosophy. These new owners are completely remodeling the store, and I can promise it will be an absolute showplace! Our customers and community will certainly benefit from the changes, and when your readers stop in they'll still see some familiar faces.

I want to thank everyone for this amazing journey. Their kind words, thoughts, and prayers mean a great deal to me and my family. My life has been truly enriched by having all of them

in it.

Peter FrielCindy's HallmarkBranford