After nearly twenty years in business, sisters and business partners Lynne Faist and Jane Diesing will close The Village Shoppe–the clothing, gifts, and home furnishings store on Main St. that they ran with their mother, Marge Faist, who is retired. “Our thought was to downsize, but then we were approached to sell the business … and we knew it was time,” says Diesing, who planned to close at the end of August. “It all happened so fast that we haven’t had time to think about our next venture!”

Through the years, their business grew and they expanded it into two rooms at the back of the building (now Attic Boutique, see below), and also operated another location, called Village Shoppe Too, on E. Middle St. for three years. When they closed that location about ten years ago, they knocked down a wall and expanded in their original building.

“We have such good memories of traveling to [wholesale] shows together … sometimes we’d look at each other and couldn’t believe this was actually our job–it was so fun,” Diesing says. But she says her family is “excited to see someone else follow their dream” in the same location.

That person is Manchester resident Dana McGrath, who plans to open la Maison, in the first part of October in Village Shoppe’s 1,500-square-foot space. McGrath says the store will feature an “eclectic mix” of furniture and home decor, including French industrial, shabby chic, and vintage restyled pieces. McGrath, fifty, worked at Merkel Furniture for more than ten years as an interior designer and a buyer.

“I’ve always wanted my own shop–a design boutique.” McGrath says she’ll “freshen up” the space and also plans to offer residential interior design services at the location.

la Maison, 104 N. Main, plans to open in early October. No phone number or store hours at press time.