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MEDIA CONTACT:
Nolan Kmiec
nolan.kmiec@gmail.com
www.kmiec.pr.com
773.241.4289

Hallmark Store to open in downtown Urbana.

URBANA, OCT 11, 2015 Mary Ann Jones, a 1998 U of I graduate of the College of
Business will open a Hallmark store in downtown Urbana. Jones has 12 Hallmark stores in
downstate Illinois. She will move her headquarters from Forsyth to Sunnycrest Mall along with
35 accountants, business managers and buyers.

I am so thrilled to be opening a Jones Hallmark Store in Urbana, Jones said. The new store
will fit well with the mix of retail in downtown Urbana and brings Hallmark back to town after
being gone for 15 years.

This is the fifth new business to open in downtown Urbana since January. Its a win-win for
shoppers and by adding the excitement of a new retail option we hope people will want to come
to our increasingly attractive Main Street, said James Cobb executive director of the Urbana
Chamber of Commerce.

Just in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving, the store will sell cards, picture frames, stuffed
animals and other fun gifts for family and friends. Students and U of I staff will receive a 10
percent discount on all merchandise and 20 percent off Halloween items. Jones will hire for parttime floor jobs and a full-time store manager. The store is about a mile east of campus.

The Urbana mayor, Laurel Prussing, will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening
of the store Sunday, Oct 11.

The store address will be 123 W. Main St. and to learn more about the store opening and receive
updates on events, visit the Facebook page UrbanaHallmark.

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Fact Sheet

Mary Ann grew up in Tolono and attended Unity High School

Her mother, Mary Thersa Jones owned a boutique gift shop in Tolono where
Mary Ann would help out while she was in school
Mary Ann has been running her business out of Forsyth for the last decade and
founded the regional group of stores in 1999
She is the largest single Hallmark distributor in Illinois outside of Chicago
She was a member of AOPi and worked in ad sales for Illini Publishing Co.
Her husband is Sonny Smith and she has two children, Kevin and Jessica
She enjoys running marathons during her free time
Her new store in Urbana will accept credit and debit cards but NOT American
Express
The store phone number is 217-555-1234
Store hours are 10-8 M-Friday, 8-8 Saturday and noon to 5 on Sundays

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Store Locations

Belvidere

Sterling

Bourbonnaise

Moline

Galesburg!
Peoria
Normal

Jacksonville!

Forsyth
Urbana!
Springfield

Mt Vernon

Mary Ann Jones organizing her store in Forsyth.