Kids Cottage shutting its doors

After being in business in Rockville Centre for more than 30 years, Helene Miller will close Kids Cottage at the end of June.

Miller was told last spring that her landlord would not be renewing her lease. A business deal came through, she said, and her landlords wanted the property. But instead of packing up the store and moving to a new location, Miller, who is 67, decided it was time to close.

“I just felt that, at this stage in my life, do I really want to go through rebuilding the store, dealing with the move and the hassle and so on?” she said. “Or do I spend time with my family and grandchildren and have time to travel and have the freedom that owning a retail store doesn’t afford you?”

Kids Cottage has been at 14A S. Park Ave. for almost 15 years. When the storefront became vacant, Miller moved there from her original, smaller store, which was just a few doors down. The larger space gave her more room to showcase her wares.

“Many customers have said it’s eye candy walking into this store,” she said. “No matter where you look, there’s something interesting and unique.”

Kids Cottage specializes in clothing, gifts and educational toys for children. Even if she did move to a new location, Miller said, she wasn’t planning on managing the store much longer. “I’m a young 67,” she said, “but I’m not doing this for another 15 years.”

Even so, she said, she’s going to miss the store. “I’m going to miss it terribly,” she said. “I’m going to miss my customers. It’s been such a part of me. But what choice do I have?”

After the store closes, she said, she is going to try to enjoy her newfound free time. She wants to travel, take some courses and see where life takes her, she said.

“I want to close this store and say goodbye and wait to see what it feels like to have more time on my hands,” Miller said. “I really don’t have a plan. But I know that I’ll pop up someplace and do something else.”