{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Maggie J's, iconic downtown Corbin store, closing its doors &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"M1JrUhkhnd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/maggy-js-closing-doors\/\">Maggie J&#8217;s, iconic downtown Corbin store, closing its doors<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/maggy-js-closing-doors\/embed\/#?secret=M1JrUhkhnd\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Maggie J&#8217;s, iconic downtown Corbin store, closing its doors&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"M1JrUhkhnd\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Maxine-standing-in-store-4x.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"thumbnail_height":366,"description":"After 76 years, iconic downtown Corbin business Maggie J\u2019s is closing its doors. The last day of business will be Saturday, March 10. Owner Maxine VonGruenigen, who has worked at the store founded by her aunt Maggie J. and uncle Roy Wyrick on Feb. 19, 1942, said she is in good health, but that it is time for her to go do something else. \u201cI\u2019m not doing this because I have problems or owe money,\u201d VonGruenigen said of closing the store. \u201cI just thought it is time to give it up.\u201d The 88-year-old said she began working at the store when she was just 15. VonGruenigen said, at that time, she had been asked about stocking shelves for another store during the Christmas season. \u201cWhen I did that, Aunt Maggie said, \u2018If you can stock for that store, you can work in my store,\u2019\u201d VonGruenigen said. At 15, VonGruenigen needed a state work permit to work in the store. \u201cWhen that worker\u2019s permit came, I thought, \u2018I have arrived. This is where I want to be!\u2019\u201d VonGruenigen said, explaining she worked at the store during all of the holidays. When Roy Wyrick died, Maggie J. and VonGruenigen were left to run the store. VonGruenigen said while she will miss the store, she plans to remain in Corbin and remain involved in the community. \u201cI\u2019ll be everywhere,\u201d VonGruengen said. \u201cI&#8217;m not going to sit home.\u201d While VonGruenigen and her husband, Eldred, have already traveled extensively, she said they have two great grandchildren that she would like to spend more time with. \u201cWe have a lot to do,\u201d VonGruenigen said. Whatever she does, VonGruenigen said the one thing she will be is happy. \u201cI don\u2019t know of a time in my life when I wasn\u2019t happy,\u201d VonGruenigen said. \u201cI have had a happy life. I never got tired of going to that store and dealing with people,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was cut out for me. One of VonGruenigen\u2019s closest neighbors and best friends, Betty Comer, owns Gibson\u2019s Music, located next door to Maggie J\u2019s. \u201cIt is indeed a challenging task to attempt to describe Maxine in a couple paragraphs,\u201d Comer said. \u201cHer love and dedication for Corbin is most assuredly unmatched by anybody I have ever met.\u201d \u201cWhen she and Lorene Hodge put their heads together they were unstoppable,\u201d Comer added. \u201c Among their many accomplishments were Nibroc, Octoberfest and Christmas Open house. Maxine is the doyenne of ladies clothing. Having served four generations, she is the master of merchandising.\u201d I have known Maxine for over 70 years. She is caring, compassionate, inspiring and a true friend. We have been business neighbors for 35 of my 49 years. This block will never be the same without Maxine and Tonya (Marcum).\u201d \u201cTo Maxine I will say, \u2018Enjoy your retirement and my best wishes to you and Eldred. Thanks for your glowing personality and the tremendous impact you have had on our town. God bless you and much love!\u2019\u201d Comer said Corbin Main Street Manager Andy Salmons, who owns You &amp; Me Coffee &amp; Tea on Main Street, said VonGruenigen is one of the reason\u2019s downtown Corbin is flourishing. \u201cNone of us doing business on Main Street would be here without her. For decades she led the fight of preserving and promoting our Downtown and paved the way for so many others to join her,\u201d Salmons said. \u201cI\u2019ve had such a pleasure working with Maxine during my time as Main street manager and am so appreciative of all the hard work she\u2019s done both in her own business and with local events. Maxine\u2019s presence downtown and her dress shop will be deeply missed but her legacy will continue long after Maggie J\u2019s shuts its doors,\u201d he said."}