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Imagine Artwear will close its King Street storefront on June 30, ending Carol Supplee’s run of more than 33 years as a small-business owner in Old Town Alexandria.
Supplee plans to shift the shop online as she focuses on her health. Until the storefront closes, customers can receive 50% off all merchandise.
The business began as Fiber Designs in 1988. Supplee purchased it in 1992 and built a following around American-made goods and handcrafted textiles. She said the designers and suppliers she worked with became like family.
Over the years, the store also developed into a community gathering place where customers met, formed friendships and started conversations. A large outdoor mural added by Supplee became a popular selfie stop for Old Town visitors.
Supplee, a former president of the Old Town Business and Professional Association, has invited customers to leave messages in a book at the shop as its final weeks unfold.
“I love capturing the stories from customers,” Supplee said. “This has been a great opportunity.”