WASHINGTON — The Why Not? boutique shop in Alexandria, Virginia, is closing at the end of the month after 53 years of business.
Generations of visitors describe the Old Town toy store at King and South Lee streets as a place of joy, whimsy and wonder.
“If you needed something for a child of any age — from newborn to say, 12 — you could find it there,” says Bethany Harrington of the Why Not? shop. “Especially in case of quick birthday pinches and for baby showers, we were there a lot.”
Offering everything from puppets to puzzles, the boutique shop’s owner says she no longer can afford to fend off competition from online retailers.
Some Old Town regulars fear what might be coming next.
“We’ve lived here. We’ve raised our kids here,” say sisters Evie Cartwright and Emily Schell Jones. “We know that a chain will probably go in there, which is a big bummer because we like the ‘Ma and Pop’ shops.”
The store’s owner, Kate Slawbaw has high hopes for her replacement though.
“I own a half interest in the building, so I have some say over what can go into it,” Slawbaw says.
