When Susie and Jack Hauslein retired and closed their store, Jackie Lynn's Hallmark, last year, they lamented the shaky economy and the fact they could not find a new owner for their store at Fox Mill Shopping Center.

The Hausleins operated the store at 2553 John Milton Dr. from 1995 until last June. The space sat vacant until last Friday, when the owner of three local Hallmark stores moved one of her existing shops to the location.

Lisa Gaudette owns Hallmark shops in McLean, Alexandria and Oakton. She shuttered the Alexandria store several months ago, but says she was pleased to find the Fox Mill vacancy.

 "This is just the kind of community we were looking for," she said.

Merchandise is still being moved in, but Shelby's has a wide selection of cards and gift items on display, Gaudette said, pointing out some of the candles and bath items in a Mother's Day display.

As an added bonus, several loyal employees of Jackie Lynn's returned to work at the new Shelby's Hallmark. Among them: Barbara Williams, who worked at the former Hunter Woods Village Center store from 1976 to 1995, and then at Jackie Lynn's from 1995-2011.