Guilford's Bead Hive Closes After 27 Years; Owner Retiring

GUILFORD, CT — Guilford's Bead Hive, one of the last bead shops in the state, closed its doors on Saturday after 27 years for owner Rena Mulrain's retirement, CT Insider reported.

The Bead Hive, located in Strawberry Hill Plaza, was "a community or even like family," according to the news outlet.

"I am so thankful for the Bead Hive," Joan Wenzel, a longtime employee of the store, told CT Insider. "It’s never really been a shop to me — we’re a family. Instead of spending holidays together, we create together. I will miss that terribly."

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