By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY – Toby Hagmaier is ready to start a new chapter in her life, and that means closing her downtown shop, Southern Spirit Gallery.

The last day for the business, which has been at 102 S. Main St. since 2009, will be Dec. 31 — Saturday.

Southern Spirit Gallery sells jewelry, paintings, glass, pottery, woodcarvings and more. Hagmaier has been having a retirement sale since Dec. 26 and, though the shop still looks full, has only about a third of her original stock left.

Hagmaier said she decided to close the shop because she met someone new in the past year and wanted to be able to travel.

“It was a very hard decision because I have loved doing this,” she said.

Everyone who has visited the store has become friends because they end up becoming repeat customers, Hagmaier said.

“Nobody ever comes in here grumpy,” she said.

Hagmaier will continue to live above the shop while renting out the retail space to 3 jem’s boutique, a clothing store with a location in Concord.

Hagmaier said 3 jem’s boutique hopes to be open by Feb. 1.

Hagmaier thanked the customers and artists who supported her business over the years. She said she will miss running the store and searching craft sales for new products for her shop.

For Salisbury’s business owners, she said be prepared to work hard but enjoy it while it lasts.

“Because basically if you don’t enjoy it then you shouldn’t be doing it,” she said.

The retirement sale will end Saturday. The entire stock is 25 percent off and furniture and store fittings are included in the sale.

Contact Southern Spirit Gallery for more information by calling 704-633-0761.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.