After 30 Years, Southold Business Closing Doors

Three decades have passed since Ed and Joan Pressler set up shop on Main Road in Southold -- and since then, their business, Pastimes Antiques, has become a fixture on the local canvas.

On Thursday, Pressler hung a large sign across the front of his building that said, in bright red letters, "Store Closing."

And for many, the words signaled the end of an era. "It's something we've been thinking about for a long time," Pressler said on Saturday. "It's bittersweet. But with our age and so forth, it's time."

Pressler said the business has been an integral part of the couple's lives. "It's been good to us," he said. "It gave us a lot of good times. We made a lot of good memories."

Generations of Southold residents have Pastimes Antiques as part of their collective memories, Pressler said. "They're still coming in, the children, and their children. Three generations of families."

Once the sign went up, Pressler said the store has been flooded with friends and well- wishers. The news of his closing, plus Saturday's bad weather, equaled a boon in business. "I had a store full of people. It's been overwhelming. I haven't had this much activity since the 80s."

His reasons for closing, Pressler said, have nothing to do with the flagging economy. And, with a store full of inventory, Pressler is not sure when the last day will be. "I'm just testing the waters," he said.

Still in stock at the store are a wide assortment of treasures, including gold jewelry, sterling silver, porcelain and other antiques.

Perhaps the best part of the 30 year venture, Pressler said, has been working side by side with his wife every step of the way.

When asked about the challenges of balancing a marriage and business for three decades, Pressler laughed. "We like each other," he said. "That helps."