Cape Henlopen Wicker closing doors
It may be hard to think about warm days on the porch through the current cold spell, but now is the time to get that new wicker porch furniture because Cape Henlopen Wicker is going out of business.
"Most of my customers come in April," said Gwen Palmer, owner. "They're going to be surprised when we're not here."
Opened 16 years ago, Cape Henlopen Wicker is located at 18422 Coastal Highway in Lewes, in what used to be the Sandy Brae farm racing stable built in the 1920s. The stones wrapping around the outside of the house, and used in the house's two fireplaces, are from the base of the old Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, which stood atop the Great Dune in what is now Cape Henlopen State Park before it collapsed 90 years ago.
It was just a coincidence the store was called Cape Henlopen Wicker, said Palmer, but it felt like a good name after the history of the house was revealed.
Palmer said she's closing the business because her lease is up at the end of the year, and she's getting too old to be moving furniture around by herself.
"I'm at the age where I'd rather be lifting my grandchildren than furniture," she said.
While her outdoor furniture selection is limited, Palmer said she has a wide variety of indoor wicker furniture that's been priced to sell. She said there are still bedroom and living rooms sets, lamps, tables, chairs, cushions, doormats and other decorative furniture.
"We've got some very nice pieces that have been marked down heavily," she said. "We're at the give me a ridiculous offer and take it home stage."
Palmer said she will continue on with her other business, Mugs & Stitches, a custom mug and embroidering shop she started 26 years ago. She said she doesn't know where this store will be located, but when she finds out, she said she'd let her customers know.
"That's something I can do as I get older," she said of her embroidery business.
For more information call Cape Henlopen Wicker at 644-2000. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Monday, through the end of the year. More store information can be found at www.capehenlopenwicker.com.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
