Last Days As Southold Antiques Business 'Winds Down'

Just in time for the holiday season, Pastimes Antiques in Southold, which is closing after 30 years, is offering big savings.

According to a listing on Craigslist, an ongoing final clearance sale offers slashed prices and great deals, with "everything negotiable."

Owner Ed Pressler said no final closing date has been announced yet.

"We're definitely winding down," he said.

Pressler said the store still has an abundance of inventory, with new pieces having come in since the store closure was announced in May.

"Everything is about 50 percent off," Pressler said. 

The store is currently open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., he said, and sometimes, on holiday weekend Mondays.

Three decades have passed since Pressler and his wife Joan set up shop on Main Road in Southold — and since then, the business has become a fixture on the local canvas. 

When Pressler hung a large sign across the front of his building that said, in bright red letters, "Store Closing" in May, saddened customers streamed in.

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. I can't do this seven days anymore."

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 was flooded with friends and well- wishers. "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.  

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."

The time is right, Pressler said, to move on to a new stage of life. "This is a good thing," he said.

For more information on store hours and sales, call 631-765-1221. Pastimes Antiques is located 56025 Route 25, across from 7-Eleven and the Dodge/Chrysler Car Dealer in Southold.