Free & Co. to Close its Doors in May

Abigail Free said she'll miss the customers in Katonah the most.

"It seems like yesterday that I had girls and moms in the store buying graduation gifts, and now they're in buying jewelry for their bridesmaids," she said. "I've had little girls crawling in the store who are now in getting their first pieces—I feel like I've watched a generation grow up in the store."

Free is the owner of Free & Co., a jewelry shop closing its doors at 135 Katonah Avenue next month.

She cited basic economics as the reason for closing.

"My revenue is not covering my expenses," she said. While not facing a rent increase, she said her rent was never lowered since the start of the economic recession.

"The economic changes affects local spending habits. People are not spending like they used to, but my expenses stayed the same," she said.

Free, a Katonah resident of 10 years and former director of the Hammond Museum in North Salem, said she plans to open an online shop to sell the artisan jewelry now lining display cases in her brick and mortar store.

Earlier this month, Boo Girls, a Katonah clothing shop just up the street, announced similar plans.

With some of her new-found spare time, Free said she hopes to have more time to focus on her dog Gizmo—the dog featured in the shop's logo. The Japanese Chin took top in breed in 2012 and 2013 at the Westminster Dog Show.

Customers can stop in to see Free and enjoy discounted sales prior to the shop's closing on May 12.