Strawberry Bazaar store closing after 38 years in Portsmouth
Portsmouth — Another landmark store is closing.
Bickford’s restaurant at the Portsmouth traffic circle and KFC on Woodbury Avenue recently announced they will not renew their leases. Now Strawberry Bazaar on Market Street is closing its doors.
“Not that I really want to retire right now,” said Dan Kovel, co-owner of the store with his wife, Betsy. However, he said, the timing was right and the sale is a done deal.
But the owners’ decision is a sad story for all the store’s fans and customers. After almost 38 years in business, Strawberry Bazaar will no longer be a landmark on Market Street.
“It happened very fast,’ said Dan Kovel. “We put it on the market and it just sold, quickly — really fast.”
Chaise Lounge, currently on Congress Street, will move into the Market Street location as of April 1.
It’s the last page in the long history of a fine gallery/store. Both Dan and Betsy Kovel, natives of Connecticut, decided they wanted to open a store a long time ago.
