For years, our little shop had been tucked away on a quiet street. It wasn’t the busiest part of town, but we had customers who came back time and again. Still, there was always something missing—a spark that kept us wondering, “Are we doing the right thing?” Then, we closed the shop.
At first, the decision felt like a defeat. We boxed up the last of the stock, turned off the lights, and walked out into the world, uncertain of what came next. But in the months that followed, we found clarity in the quiet. It wasn’t that the shop had been a mistake—it was that we weren’t ready for it yet. We didn’t understand just how much it had meant to us until it was gone.
We started to talk about it more—what we’d do differently, what we loved about the shop, and what we missed. Slowly, it became clear. We weren’t just shopkeepers; we were meant to be shopkeepers. The joy we’d felt helping customers find that perfect thing, the sense of purpose in curating a space—it was undeniable.
When we heard about the expansion of galleries and restaurants downtown, we couldn’t resist. It felt like the city was finally coming alive in the way we had always dreamed. We took a deep breath and signed the lease for a new shop—a second chance, one we were ready for. And this time, we knew who we were and why we did it.
We would keep our beloved shop on Parsons Street, but we were ready to expand to High Street as well. It was a chance to share what we’d learned and build something new. The second shop wasn’t just about business—it was about belonging. The space was everything we wanted—open, airy, full of potential. And with the buzz of new life around us, we felt a renewed sense of excitement.
-A.J. SOSEBY
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