Business & Tech

Tiddlywinks Toys To Close Its Doors

The shop on Main Street is expected to close at the end of April, but Tiddlywinks events will continue.

Bel Air's Main Street is in the process of bidding farewell to a small, local business.

will close its doors at the end of April.

"It’s been kind of a decision in the making," store owner Kim Norris said.

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Norris, who opened the store three years ago, said there are personal matters impacting her family and requiring her attention. To hire someone to be at the store when she could not, however, would be too big an expense.

"I tried to sell the business," Norris said.

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She explained she was not able to sell it, not for lack of interest, but because of the financial climate.

"As much as people love the store it just was not as profitable as I had hoped," Norris said.

The store is now in the process of clearing inventory and this week everything in the store is 30 percent off.

"Small businesses, we all struggle and there just comes a time when you say when is enough enough," Norris said. "Hopefully this is a reminder to people to shop at small businesses because if you don’t, they could disappear."

While the shop is closing, Norris says this is not the last the community will see of Tiddlywinks.

Norris still owns the name, and with it, plans to partner with local businesses to put on events.

The first event, a Princess Dance & Tea Party, is planned May 6 at the Dance Conservatory of Maryland which is the official school of the Harford Ballet Company.

Norris said she is not sure what the plan for the property is or whether a new tenant is being sought.

"We’re definitely feeling the love which is a nice way to go out," Norris said, later adding, "As I keep telling my customers you can’t be sad here at Tiddlywinks, you have to be happy."


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