Fessenden Craft and Bead Supplies on Friendship St. in Waldoboro will soon close its doors after having been in business for 35 years.
Gail Fessenden moved into the former Weston’s Hardware more than 30 years ago and has developed a list of regular clientele. She said business dropped off after the closing of the Osram Sylvania filament plant down the street, however, as a lot of people who worked there shopped in her store.
“You have to read the handwriting on the wall and the last three years have been really desperate,” Fessenden said.
She said she is interested in starting an artist’s co-operative and would like to be able to teach some classes. Fessenden doesn’t want to maintain the building, which she owns. She intends on putting the building up for sale.
“It’s just time for me to move on,” Fessenden said, adding that she will continue to sell her jewelry and other products wholesale and is thinking of developing a website. “Beading is a big business. It’s almost addictive and really so much fun.”
Fessenden said she has sold a lot of her products in the last couple of weeks. She sells her own hand-made jewelry, cards, baskets and other decorative crafts. She is holding a half price sale for at least another month, but doesn’t have an actual closing date yet, she said. She will give some remaining materials to area children closer toward the final closing.
“It’s just part of the ebb and flow of business in coastal Maine,” she said.
Fessendens is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 832-7509.
