Reality star shutters store for personal reasons after 15 years
Amid rising burnout and economic pressure, a reality TV star makes a surprising move to close a long-running store in favor of something far more personal.
In a culture where burnout and overwork are the norm, even celebrities are reevaluating what truly matters.
About 66% of Americans report not having a proper work-life balance, even though 94% of employees believe it’s important, according to a report from LifeHack method.
As a mother of two, I know firsthand how hard it is to focus on your work for hours while your children are still small. Many new mothers who return to work too quickly find it difficult to fully concentrate, torn between professional demands and their babies’ needs.
It can lead to that miserable feeling of being powerless, unable to control your life and kind of wishing that the day had 12 more hours, because then you would have time for everything.
Related: Beyond Liam & Olivia: Top money moves to make when you have a baby
The report also shows that Italy has the best work-life balance, with only 3% of employees working more than 50 hours a week. The government provides free childcare, helping parents find more balance.
In contrast, the U.S. ranks 29th out of 41 countries with a work-life balance score of just 5.2 due to long work hours and lack of parental leave policies.
We often assume celebrities are immune to this struggle, but they’re not. In April, one reality star made a difficult decision to close his store after nearly 15 years, citing family as a reason. Image source: Shutterstock
Reality star closes Nashville Antique Archaeology store to devote time to his family
“American Pickers,” a long-running reality TV series, debuted 15 years ago on the History Channel. The main host is Mike Wolfe, who, alongside his co-hosts, travels across the country in search of rare antiques and collectibles to buy, sell, or keep.
On April 18, Wolfe announced he will be closing doors of his Nashville Antique Archaeology store after nearly 15 years, reports the Sun.
Wolfe met with fans on April 26, and the store officially closed on April 27.
“After nearly 15 amazing years, we’ve made the tough decision to close the doors of our Antique Archaeology store here in Music City,” Wolfe said.
More closings:
- Popular retail chain to close unprofitable store locations
- Famous sporting goods store closing after 70 years; no bankruptcy
- Popular discount retailer files bankruptcy, closes all stores
Wolfe explained that he wanted to dedicate more time to family and new projects, adding that he will keep running his LeClaire store in Iowa and remain in the antiques business online.
“Sometimes, even when something is good, you have to pause and ask yourself where your time is going — and where your heart is calling you next,” Wolfe added. “For me, that’s family…I’m not disappearing — not even close.”
"I’ll still be picking, sharing, and selling online and at our original LeClaire, Iowa store.
"But I’ve learned over the years that it’s easy to spread yourself too thin, and balance is something we all chase in one way or another.”
Wolfe has a 13-year-old daughter, Charlie, and a longtime girlfriend Leticia Cline.
More than just one store: Why this matters
While Wolfe’s decision came from personal reasons and noble motives, unfortunately, not every business is in the position to do the same.
The closure comes during a challenging time for brick-and-mortar retailers. Both small shops and major chains are struggling with post-pandemic recovery, inflationary pressures, labor shortages, and rising interest rates. Commercial rents and overhead have increased in many cities, making it harder to stay profitable — especially for lifestyle or specialty stores like Wolfe’s.
Related: Huge discount store with 178 shops closes two more locations
Even for successful businesses, the demands can be too much.
Some entrepreneurs are choosing to scale back or pivot instead of burning out, but in today’s economic climate, others are forced to make that choice.
