Wave Printing, a cornerstone of Heber City’s business landscape since 1889, officially ceased operations last Friday, marking the end of an era for the community. The printing company, known for its long-standing connection to The Wasatch Wave newspaper, has been a fixture in the town for 136 years, making it the oldest continuously operating business in the area. The last issue of The Wasatch Wave was published in July 2025, and the closure of Wave Printing signifies the loss of a vital local institution. Founded in the same year that Heber City was incorporated, Wave Printing has been a witness to significant changes in both the community and the broader world of printing. Richard and Sue Buys purchased the company in 1974, unaware at the time that they were related to its founder, William Buys. Their daughter, Kari McFee, and her husband, Paul McFee, took over operations in 2010, continuing the family legacy. The Buys family also owned several other newspapers in Utah, including The Park Record, which they operated for a decade before selling in the 1980s. Paul McFee, who joined the family business just six months after marrying Kari, has been a pivotal figure in the company’s operations. He recalls the transition from traditional hot metal typesetting to modern printing technologies. "I got a whole college course on printing and business at the same time," he said, reflecting on his early experiences in the industry. Despite the challenges posed by the digital age and a declining print market, McFee was determined to keep Wave Printing alive, insisting that the demand for physical documents remained strong, especially from local municipalities and businesses. However, the discontinuation of The Wasatch Wave newspaper had a detrimental impact on Wave Printing's viability. Rumors about the company’s impending closure circulated, leading several clients to seek services elsewhere. "We had a lot of clientele that heard, ‘Oh, you guys are going out of business,’ and they went elsewhere. And that’s why we’re closing,” McFee explained. The situation was exacerbated when Wave Printing sold its two buildings to Heber City for over $2.1 million in July 2025, leading many to speculate about its future. The City Council’s purchase was part of a broader initiative to revitalize downtown Heber City, focusing on community programming and enhancing public spaces. While the city has painted parking spaces at the location, the final plans for the buildings remain unclear. Meanwhile, McFee has expressed his frustration over the miscommunication that contributed to the company’s decline. “It wasn’t just a matter of people being malicious. It was simply misinformation that hurt our business,” he lamented. Financial pressures also weighed heavily on Wave Printing, with rising costs for materials such as paper, chemicals, and plates—many of which are imported—significantly impacting the bottom line. These costs have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic, and McFee noted that while they tried to keep prices reasonable, clients were often shocked by price increases. In the wake of the newspaper's closure, McFee sought potential buyers to keep the business afloat. Although several interested parties reached out, negotiations with a local businessman ultimately fell through just days before the final decision to close was made. “I wasn’t willing to keep the business open longer. It was just time to stop the bleeding and call it good,” McFee stated. As Wave Printing prepares to wind down, McFee plans to use the buildings for storage while selling off decades' worth of equipment, including its monumental 52-ton King newspaper press. This manually controlled press, a marvel of engineering, has been a centerpiece of the company’s operations and symbolizes the rich history of printing in Heber City. The company’s archival collection of newspapers, dating back to its founding, serves as a testament to the community’s history and the role that Wave Printing played in it. McFee has already gifted some of these historical editions to The Park Record, but he is still figuring out what to do with the rest. As for the future, McFee and his family plan to take home five rescue cats that have lived on the property, further emphasizing the familial atmosphere that has defined Wave Printing over the decades. All six of his employees, who have dedicated over 20 years to the company, will also be deeply affected by the closure. Reflecting on the closure, McFee expressed gratitude for the extended family that made up Wave Printing’s team. “It’s a family business, but it’s an extended family with all of our people. And that’s what was so hard about this,” he concluded, as Heber City bids farewell to one of its historical treasures.