It’s an end of an era for Petaluma gift and garden store Tuscan Gardens, which is closing after 13 years in business.
“We had a really good year and a really good Christmas season,” said owner Sharon McAuley, who opened the store in 2000.
“I’ve watched my customers grow up and they became my family. There are a lot of great conversations that we had the counter. (But) more and more, I always found myself wanting to go play with my clay, so it’s time to move on.”
The store will close mid February, after which McAuley will focus on Studio Clay, a ceramics studio she opened last year along with friend and local artist Jane McDonald. The studio is located next door to Tuscan Gardens.
A former insurance executive, McAuley says she enjoyed becoming an entrepreneur and becoming part of the community. She loved traveling around the country and world in search of unique treasures, and bringing them back to Petaluma.
The business won’t remain vacant for long and will become another gift store, said McAuley.
