After 17 years of lifting furniture, Marilyn Cooler is ready to lift a grandchild instead.
She is closing Heritage House Antiques and Gardens, which she ran with Carol Hunter. Wednesday likely will be the last day of sales.
The store started in the building that is now Blackstone's Cafe in Beaufort, then moved to another Beaufort location. It relocated once more seven years ago, after Cooler purchased the property at 1619 Paris Ave.
"It's been great, I've loved being in Port Royal," she said, adding she enjoys watching the children walk between Port Royal Elementary School and the Wardle Family YMCA after school in the "quaint little town."
Cooler wasn't joking when she said she doesn't want to lift any more furniture -- everything is half-priced until the store closes.
In the past, she and her husband went to a week-long antiques show in upstate New York and filled an 18-foot trailer with their purchases. She still has several items at home she's undecided about, but for now, the goal is to close the store.
For now, Cooler's focus is on retiring so she can spend time with one of her grandchildren -- a 7 1/2-month-old boy who lives in the area -- and remodeling a cottage next to the store with her husband.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed Sunday.
Information: 843-522-8881
Other changes about town:
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