It seems we’ve been writing about a lot of closings on Larchmont these days. Sadly today, we note the imminent loss of another beloved store, as Pickett Fences announced it will be closing its doors on January 31st after nearly 27 years on Larchmont.
Owner Joane Pickett posted the following message on social media this morning:
“We are closing Pickett Fences on January 31 after almost 27 years in Larchmont Village. The fatigue, frustration & fear from not being able to pivot & hustle our way to a sustainable solution has been crushing. We fought so hard for 10 months but the time has come to walk away. I am thankful for the friends I made at Pickett Fences; customers, staff, vendors….you all made my life richer & better. To the customers that showed up & bought stuff you didn’t need when we were forced to close, and kept showing up all year to fight for us, I will never forget your kindness & support. To the staff, current & former, who treated the business like their own, especially Alyssa, Monica & Shannan who returned after the closure & put on their masks & lifted me up every day, I am grateful you are in my life. To the vendors who support small business & had our backs, thank you for everything. We had an amazing 27 year run; I made the best friends & found the most wonderful community in Larchmont Village, that makes me proud & will be my takeaway. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making something beautiful in my life.”
Two years ago, Pickett Fences celebrated ita 25th anniversary on the street with a festive party befitting the style of the hardworking store owners, Joane and Wiley Pickett. A year earlier, they lost their longtime space across the street and scrambled to move into their current location. The new location turned out to be a big hit with the community, and it became a go-to place for all kinds of shopping on Larchmont. The larger store also offered Pickett the opportunity to offer more men’s clothing, workout wear, and more gifts and housewares.
But 2020 has brought a year of great disruption to Larchmont, and Pickett Fences struggled valiantly to stay open and pivot during the pandemic. Throughout all the tumult, Joane Pickett remained a huge booster of Larchmont Blvd. and one of the most resilient business owners own the street. She served for many years as the president of the Larchmont Boulevard Association, which represents business owners on the street, and she still serves as an officer of the organization.
“In a year so devastating to small businesses, Pickett Fences’ closing is a significant loss to Larchmont Village. Pickett Fences was, in many ways, the heart of the Village,” Heather Duffy Boylston, co-executive of the Larchmont Village BID told the Buzz. “They gave back to the community in so many ways with their support of our schools, The Girl Scouts and The Boy Scouts, and our local sports leagues. Change is difficult for a community like ours that is so anchored in our history. It’s tough for us to say goodbye. Still, I hope that we will embrace the future and support the new small businesses that come to Larchmont because eventually, they will become the businesses that our kids love as much as we loved Pickett Fences,”
Pickett was not available to talk with us today, but we have plans to chat with her soon, and we will share more details of her remarkable story with Buzz readers.
