One of Wichita’s first trend stores is closing after more than four decades

In 1981, a friend asked Nancy Robinson if she’d like to open a card shop with him.

“I said, ‘Sure, how hard can that be?’ I found out.”

Through more than four decades and six different Best of Times sites around Wichita, Robinson has seen some especially good times — Beanie Babies sales were the best — and some hard ones.

“Let me tell you, the last two years have been extremely stressful for sure.”

New Normandie Center owners Brent and Kerrie DuPont have bought Robinson out of her lease, and she’s planning what she’s calling a retirement sale for early November.

Robinson opened the store off of a back courtyard in Brittany Center at 21st and Woodlawn.

“It was hard for people to find us, but we developed a following,” she said. “We lost so much money the first year that the IRS decided to investigate.”

An IRS official warned Robinson that “she would be there several days going through our records, and she left after two hours.”

“She realized we didn’t make it up, apparently.”

Robinson said part of the problem was construction on Woodlawn.

After a year, Robinson got another partner but eventually owned the business on her own.

“We were one of the first trend stores,” she said.

Best of Times carries “any popular thing that comes along.”

In addition to Beanie Babies, that’s included Italian charm bracelets, funny tea towels and socks.

“I got in fairly early,” Robinson said of the sock craze.

“We’ve sold thousands of pairs of socks because it’s something useful and fun.”

At one point, Robinson tried a second store in Old Town, but it didn’t work out, partly due to parking.

In 2007, she moved to her current site at Central and Woodlawn. Though she signed a new lease with the DuPonts when they took over the center, she said they came back and “made me an offer for the space, and I thought it was a good time to retire.”

“It’s just really been hard the past two years dealing with COVID and people getting mad about my requirement to wear masks for part of that.”

She said she lost customers over it.

Some customers “kind of went into hibernation,” Robinson said. She said she thinks they got more accustomed to shopping online. Also, with fewer gatherings, people didn’t need as many gifts or supplies.

Still, Robinson said, “Many of the customers have become my friends, and it’s always fun to see them.”

The store is briefly closing after business on Oct. 29 and reopening late the following week for the sale. Initially, everything will be 20% off.

“I swear, I have a million little things to mark,” Robinson said. “Hopefully, it’ll all go quickly.”

She has to be out Dec. 31, though Robinson wouldn’t mind if everything sells well before then.

“I might finally be able to enjoy Christmas once again.”