By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
News editor
November 9, 2007
Westwind Frame & Gallery owners Derek and
Marty Hiser closed their Hood River store Wednesday.
The Pines tasting room, also located at the
Second and State location, remains open.
In a letter to clients, the Hisers stated
that “due to a burglary this past spring at the Hood River
location, we suffered significant financial losses.
Subsequently, our insurance company informed us they would not
renew our theft coverage. Since then, we’ve been searching for
affordable replacement insurance.
“Unfortunately, we no longer qualify for
regular insurance. Insurance carriers now classify us as ‘high
risk.’ The cost of this necessary coverage is now prohibitive.”
The Hood River location opened in September
2006 in the former Van Metre Furniture space.
The Hisers have consolidated operations in
their gallery and frame shop location in The Dalles, at 412 E.
Second St., which remains open.
The business was started eight years ago and
Marti Hiser has done framing in the Gorge for close to 20 years.
Derek said the couple plans to open a framing shop in Hood
River in the future, when they find the right building to buy or
location to build upon. He added that their Hood River client
base has expanded rapidly in the past three years.
