Whink and Newfoundland Weavery closing as St. John's business landscape changes, says owner

Two iconic St. John's businesses are closing their doors, with the owner citing a changing business landscape as a driving reason behind the decision.

The Newfoundland Weavery and Whink, both owned by Kim Paddon, announced Monday they are closing their doors in the near future. While there isn't a set date, the Weavery says exchanges can still happen until Jan. 13.

Both stores have merged to sell products together on Water Street prior to their closing.

"It's just been very challenging," Paddon told CBC News Monday.

"This is by far the hardest decision I have ever, ever, had to make in my life. It's not only business. It's the employees that I have here, especially at the Newfoundland Weavery. A lot of the employees have been here for over 25 years."

The Newfoundland Weavery has been a staple of St. John's since Gail Griffiths opened the store in 1972. It has operated on Water Street ever since a fire destroyed the first location in 1989.

Paddon, who created Whink at 20 years old, purchased the business in 2019.

WATCH | Retail business cannot sustain itself, says Kim Paddon: 

Business owner says customer behaviour is changing, and it's led to two stores closing

13 days ago

Duration 5:40

Whink and The Newfoundland Weavery are closing their doors in the near future. Owner Kim Paddon says there are lots of factors at play, but a change in the business sector isn't going in the right direction for brick and mortar locations. The CBC's Carolyn Stokes reports.

The two businesses are the latest in the city to announce they'll be closing. Within the last month, five St. John's restaurants have also shut their doors.

Paddon said a number of factors went into her decision to close. She said she has seen slow changes in the business sector that don't favour brick and mortar stores.

"The past, like, over five years have been a challenge. We had snowmaggedon, we had COVID, all of those factors that came into play. And, I mean, as a business owner in Newfoundland and Labrador you can only differentiate yourself so many times and pivot and move and change," she said.

"There's obviously many, many factors into play. Just our economic environment and what's happening.… A retail business like this just cannot sustain itself."

Paddon said those factors have manifested in changes in customer behaviour, foot traffic and trends that show movement toward primarily shopping online. Inflation and increased shipping costs over time have also played a role, she said.

Paddon said she isn't sure what's next, but she's been overwhelmed with the amount of support and stories of how the two businesses have impacted customers.

"To see that gradual growth and what I've accomplished, I'm sad. I'm so sad. That's the only thing I can say," she said. "But then I also have so much joy and happiness of what we were able to create."

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