Opening a small business is not for the weak-willed.
It takes courage, perseverance, investment, and a willingness to fall flat on your face more than once in order to learn from your mistakes.
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Of course, if people chose to let the odds sway them, there would be a lot fewer small businesses in the world. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of small businesses fail in year one, while 30% fail in year two.
But here's perhaps the most daunting stat of all: After 10 years, only 30% of small businesses will still be in operation. In other words, a whopping 70% of small businesses fail.
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Knowing these stats, making it past a decade, or even more, is a tremendous honor that few small-business owners get to experience. By the same token, when a long-running small business shuts down, it's all the more painful, especially for those who have poured their efforts into it.
That's the case with an iconic art gallery in Phoenix, which has just made a formal announcement that after 41 years serving both artists and those who love art, it will be closing its doors.
End of an era
On May 29, Phoenix-based Bentley Gallery posted to its official Instagram that it would be closing this year, with its final day being Sept. 13, 2025.
“After four remarkable decades of presenting leading-edge contemporary art in the heart of the Southwest, Bentley Gallery announces its official closure. This decision marks the end of an era for our gallery that has long been a vital force in Arizona’s cultural landscape,” the post reads.
Originally founded in 1984 by Bentley Calverley, Bentley started out in Scottsdale in its art district, then in 2004 went on to open an additional space to house bigger events in Phoenix's warehouse district.
The originally gallery was fully relocated to that warehouse in 2021, then to a smaller space near Roosevelt Row in 2015.
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“As the gallery prepares to close its doors, we extend our deepest gratitude to the countless artists, collectors, curators, critics, institutions, and community members who have journeyed with us. Your support, creativity, and trust allowed Bentley Gallery to thrive, innovate, and push boundaries for more than 40 extraordinary years,” an official statement read.
The statement also indicated that Calverley is about to embark on a new adventure through travel.
“Egypt’s terrain can be a bit more challenging, so I would like to make that trip sooner than later,” she said. “Japan is also on the horizon. Though I’m retiring from the gallery world, I have spent my career cultivating an appreciation for art and culture, and that will simply persist in new forms.”
Patrons and artists flock to express their thanks
Comments on the announcement overflowed with gratitude and appreciation in reaction to the announcement.
“Your gallery and you will be sorely missed,” wrote Instagram user charmagnevasquez. “You’ve been a force in Arizona art history in so many important ways. Thank you! And congrats on new journeys ahead!! Salud!”
“This is a major loss for the Phoenix art community, I wish you all the best on your next chapter. Your gallery has always been an inspiration,” wrote Instagram user sarah_hansegard.
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