Main Street Store To Close After Decades
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
After 35 years of operation in Huntington, Lion in the Sun will close its 314 Main St. location on Saturday.
After serving the Huntington Village community for 35 years, Lion in the Sun will be closing its 314 Main St. storefront on Saturday.
“We’re sad to see it go,” store manager Mary Iadanza said Wednesday in a phone interview. “It’s been a great store and we’ve done many of the community’s weddings, baby showers and baby announcements.”
According to the store’s website, Lion in the Sun opened in Huntington in 1981 by previous owners Jane and Arnold Greenberg. The store, which sells invitations, fine stationery and gifts, was passed down to current owners Melinda and David Morris.
In 2002, the business expanded when Melinda Morris opened a Brooklyn storefront called Lion in the Sun of Park Slope.
In a letter posted outside of the Huntington Lion in the Sun reads, “Our family has been honored and blessed to have been an important part of this community. The shop has been our family legacy and is in every sense a true mom and pop shop fortunate to have been so loved and supported by our loyal customers and so many dedicated and amazing employees.”
According to the letter, the store’s final day of operation will be Saturday.
Iadanza added, “Everyone knows us, and they know us from our customer service and excellent quality of product. We’ve been a stable, we have loyal customers, great owners and a friendly smile whenever you come here.”
Iadanza said she plans to open a similar store at 4 Green St. in Huntington, maintaining the staff of Lion in the Sun. The new store, Medici Fine Stationery, is expected to have a soft opening on Monday to accept orders. Iadanza said the store will officially be open for cards and gifts in May.
“It’s the same people you’re going to sit with, it’s just a different name on the door,” Iadanza said. Iadanza said Medici will not be affiliated with Lion in the Sun.
“Those customers can continue that same service across the street. Even though Lion in the Sun store is closing, Medici is going to fill the gap and it’s the same people you’re going to sit with it’s just a different name on the door.”
