Antioch boutique closing

After nearly three years, Sharon Westbrook is ready to say goodbye to the upscale resale shop she has run on Antioch's Main Street.

Rose of Sharon Boutique, 921 Main St., will close May 24, making room for her former employee, Jennifer Welsh, to open The Village Thrift Shop in its place.

"We haven't had quite as much traffic as I would have liked, but that really isn't the reason," Westbrook said. "I'm just ready to spend some more time with my family."

Westbrook opened in June 2005 and said sales were steadily increasing until this year's harsh winter, which she blames for hurting many smaller businesses.

"I've really, really enjoyed working in Antioch and will miss all of the wonderful business owners down here and my customers," Westbrook said. "I just wish people would support their downtown more. There are so many neat things down here that people sometimes forget about."