A locally-owned Westport mainstay will close on Christmas Eve

After seven years in Westport, Mash Handmade is closing its doors.

Karen Tholen and her daughter, Amanda Long, opened the business, at 3900 B Pennsylvania Ave., in October 2009. Instead of signing another multi-year lease, they plan to close Dec. 24 and are having a closing sale with many items marked down 20 percent.

Tholen wants to spend more time with her six grandchildren. Long was engaged when Mash Handmade opened and is now married and the mother of a 3-year-old.

“It’s bittersweet. We have wonderful landlords, wonderful neighbors and customers,” Tholen said. “But it was time for a change. It’s okay to walk away from a profitable business.”

In their seven years of operations, they have carried consignment pieces by nearly 100 different artists and makers from across the country, including linens, jewelry, coasters, greeting cards, key rings, wall art, toys and baby items. Some of the artists got their start through Mash Handmade and are now in national retailers.

“We’ve met many of the artists so we give our customers the back story of what they are purchasing,” Tholen said. “We are really hands-on here. One of us is here all the time and when people come in they want to see the owners.”

They are considering continuing Mash Handmade as an online-only operation.

This story was originally published November 15, 2016 at 9:38 AM with the headline "A locally-owned Westport mainstay will close on Christmas Eve."