After 5 ½ years in business, Wit & Whim will be closing its Port Washington store on Feb. 28.
Wit & Whim is a gift shop that specializes in vintage and handmade pieces. The store, owned by Krissy Harper and Jacquelyn Conte, sells a variety of home goods, clothing and accessories, featuring hand-made items by over 50 Long Island artists.
The business started in its Port Washington location about 5 ½ years ago but opened a second location in Huntington in November. When their store in Port Washington closes at the end of the month, it will continue solely in Huntington.
Harper said the store has struggled during the past year, yet she’s not sure exactly why. She mentioned that the store does not get a lot of customer foot traffic and has witnessed other local businesses facing financial challenges lately.
Harper said the store closing is bittersweet.
“The bitter is: we’re going to miss our customers here in Port Washington,” Harper said. “But the sweet is: it’s still continuing in Huntington.”
Their Huntington location is thriving, though. Harper speculated that this is because Huntington businesses get a lot more traffic from locals and tourists as it is a “more shoppable town” with an “artsy” aesthetic.
While they still have their Huntington store, Harper said it is small and already packed with merchandise so they can’t bring anything from the Port Washington location over. Because of that, everything must go.
For the remainder of the month, With & Whim’s Port Washington store is having a store-wide 50% off sale. They will also be hosting an estate sale from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the weekend of Feb. 17-19.
As Harper said that the store closing is sad, she said it feels good to move forward in other directions.
“Our loyal customers that we’ve had have been so great and we were really lucky to have met them,” Harper said.