By Charlene Dean

Pahrump is about to lose two more businesses to the economy.

Dollar Plus, located at 70 S. Highway 160, Suite 101, announced a liquidation campaign beginning tomorrow and running through Dec. 15, or until everything is sold.

Owners Pat and John Burns closed the doors Sunday to ready the inventory for the event.

Pat said, “We hate to do this. It was a hard decision, but we feel it’s the right thing to do at this point in our lives.” She said the couple has a daughter and an almost 4-year-old grandchild in North Carolina and they want to spend time with the child while she is growing up.

“We always had plans to eventually move and be with family. It’s just going to happen sooner than we planned.”

The Burns have the help of retail consultant Jack Murfin to plan the liquidation. Murfin said the consulting firm, based in Denver, Colo., helps people plan changes in their businesses.

“We’ve got a plan for this store which provides incentives to let the public help us liquidate quickly,” Murfin said.

The concept almost works like a game. “And there’s no luck involved,” said Murfin.

Basically customers are awarded points according to how many times they come into the store, how much they spend and if they bring a friend.

The points accumulate and will go toward prizes and there are other factors as well. Murfin said, “We’ll have something going every day for bonus points, like a double points day, or a day when points are awarded for bringing a friend. We’ll have a treasure hunt day and a trivia day.”

Customers need to register at the store and will be given a “rules” sheet.

Murfin said the inventory will be sold to the walls and includes fixtures and furniture. “We already have people in Las Vegas and locally interested in the fixtures,” Murfin said. “But nothing is actually sold until we have the money in our hands.”

The 5,000-square-foot store is well-stocked with clothing, home decor, paper products, greeting cards, movies, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, baby items, housewares and more. Pat said there is also a inventory of Christmas items as well.

The store will reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. Call 751-5001 for additional information.

Another business closing the doors at the end of November is the Bounce House, located on Margaret Street.

Owner Ron Chase said the closing is partially economics. “I can’t afford to lose money and pay the things I have to pay.”

Chase said although the business will close, he and wife April will still book parties up to the 30th of November.

All may not be lost, however. Chase is still not tight on his future plans but said, “I want to do something for the kids. Small kids don’t have anything to do here.”

He still has to talk to the town about what it will and will not let him do, but Chase said the idea is to plan a set-up in the park once a month for a three-day weekend.

“I have a lot of equipment and I own it, so it isn’t going anywhere.” He said his inventory includes five bounce houses that vary in size and components; a big outdoor waterslide and another smaller one for the little kids; two indoor inflatable slides, two combo jumpers, a dunk tank and various concession equipment.

“The idea is to lease part of the park and set everything up. People can schedule birthday parties and I’d open it for an entry fee to play all day.”

Chase has two children of his own, ages 6 and 8. He said, “The most important thing is giving the kids something to look forward to. We’ve already heard disappointment from those planning to book parties when they discover we won’t be open.”

Call 751-5151 for additional information.