Yale University Properties is known for buying up New Haven buildings that could someday expand the campus or improve a block, sometimes to the chagrin of business tenants.
But Shawn Szirbik, owner of Hull’s Art Supply & Framing is “ecstatic” that the university purchased his building at 1144 Chapel St. for $2.4 million and negotiated s 10-year lease for his business on his terms.
For him that means no property taxes to pay, no heavy maintenance, no big ticket repairs or replacements, no snow removal.
It also means more money to run the store and keep it stocked with new and current products.
The store will remain open.
Szirbik, reached at an industry convention in Florida, said, “It’s all good. I am ecstatic with what I got. I wrote the deal… “If not on my terms I didn’t have to do it.”
The store, open since 1947, is the last independently-owned art supply store in the state and the only one in New Haven, Szirbik said.
In fact, there may be improvements soon to the outside area, he said.
Alexandra Daum, associate vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties, said they’re “excited,” to welcome the Hull’s site to Yale University Properties.
“Hull’s is an important resource for Yale students and the New Haven arts community more broadly. We look forward to helping Hull’s continue to serve New Haven. When Yale rents to commercial tenants the property remains taxable.”
Szirbik, who runs the store with his wife, Deb, said it was “not an easy decision” to sell the building.
“But after years of navigating the challenges of maintaining an aging commercial property —especially during incidents like this spring’s furnace breakdown — it became clear that it was time to step back from being a landlord and focus entirely on what we love: running a great art store.”
Hull’s operations will remain unchanged. Store hours, staffing, and the business’s commitment to serving artists, students, and the broader creative community in New Haven will stay the same, he said in a statement.
While the store was never in danger of closing because of finances, there were signs of distress in the overall business of art supplies.
The Hull’s statement says MacPherson’s, the largest distributor of art supplies in North America, filed for bankruptcy, throwing the supply chain into chaos and overwhelming the only remaining distributor.
“This transition puts us on stronger financial footing,” Szirbik said. “It ensures we can
keep offering high-quality art materials, custom framing, and expert advice while preserving
our independence and quirky charm.”
Hull’s is also part of a national buying group made up of 35 independent art supply stores across the country who pool purchasing power and sharing resources.
“Running an art supply store isn’t for the faint of heart,” added Szirbik. “Two major national
chains— Utrecht and Artist & Craftsman — opened locations in New Haven and failed, despite
their deep pockets and buying power,” he said.
Szirbik said aside from saving on repairs and taxes, he would at times like to spend less time in the store. He’s not in there every day, he said.
He said there are not a lot of commercial vacancies in New Haven because Yale has “done a great job keeping the storefronts filled.”
He said, “everybody likes to bash the big guys,” but Yale has been “a great partner.”
“I wouldn’t have sold it to them if I didn’t like them,” Szirbik said.
He announced the sale of the building on Facebook and the comments poured into the post.
One commenter wrote, “I miss Cutlers and 10,000 Villages. I don’t want to see more generic developments and renovations. Yale renovations are incredible, but what about the small mom and pop stores? Let’s make the soil fertile for autonomous growth an independent sustainability in New Haven.”
Another wrote, Thank you for letting us, your customers, know the reasoning behind your decisions. I’ll be in next week…”