PARK SLOPE — The clothing shop Laura Kleinman opened in 2001 was her "first baby," and now she's closing it to spend more time with an actual child.
Kleinman is closing her women's boutique 4 Play Brooklyn at 360 Seventh Ave. and 10th Street so she can focus on raising her 2-year-old son, she told DNAinfo New York.
Despite an "amazing landlord" and a lease that would have let the shop stay for 15 more years, Kleinman decided to close 4 Play Brooklyn to free up time for family, she said.
The store is having a going-out-of-business sale now and will probably stay open through August, Kleinman said.
After that, customers are encouraged to visit Kleinman's other store, Habit, which has locations at 137 Fifth Ave. at St. John's Place and 212 Smith St. in Cobble Hill.
Kleinman grew up on Seventh Street in Park Slope and opened 4 Play Brooklyn to give her and her friends a place to shop for fashionable clothes in the neighborhood. She described the store as her "first baby" and said it grew up with her, shifting its focus from young fashions to more adult clothes in the past 15 years.
"[Closing the store] is for the best reason possible," Kleinman said. "I've had such good staff and the best customers. It's very bittersweet. It's a personal choice to enjoy raising my son and be more hands on with him."
Other comings and goings in the neighborhood retail and restaurant scene include:
► A pop-up women's boutique will spend six months at 491 Sixth Ave. between 11th and 12th streets starting in August. Mivida Market started as a Dallas-based online shop but owner Angel Green recently moved to Park Slope and will use the temporary shop to test her store in New York, she told DNAinfo. Mivida Market will sell women's active wear, denim, accessories, bags and more.
► Toronto-based spa mini chain Blitz Facial Bar is opening its first U.S. location at 184 Fifth Ave., the space last occupied by Hiho Batik. The Blitz Facial Bar is slated to open this fall, according to a company Facebook post.
► The former Fresh Bite Mediterranean sandwich shop at 168 Fifth Ave. and Degraw has changed its name to Falafel Corner.
► The owners of Henri on Fifth have opened Henri's Backyard in the former Pickle Shack spot at 256 Fourth Ave. and President Street, Park Slope Stoop reported. The restaurant and bar will serve banh mi and "Vietnamese/German fusion" dishes, according to Park Slope Stoop.
► Longtime Aussie bar and restaurant Sheep Station will close July 29 after 10 years in business at 149 Fourth Ave. and Douglass Street.
► The cafe Venticinque at 162 Fifth Ave. near Degraw Street closed in mid-July after nearly six years in business.
► An "authentic" Mexican restaurant called Los Nopales is moving into the former Bierkraft space at 191 Fifth Ave.
