The Green Monkey, a unique LGBTQ shop selling gifts, souvenirs and drinks, is closing the doors to its Wilmington Street storefront.
“After 12 incredible years as a brick-and-mortar shop, we have decided to close our doors,” said the store owners said in a statement.
The Green Monkey is not the first business in Raleigh to close its doors this year.
Vivie Aravidis and Pierce Rogers are the owners of Pallbearer, a vintage store steps away from the Green Monkey. They told WRAL News it’s always sad to see a business close, and they hope it opens the door for another small business to open.
“Of course, you don’t want businesses to shut down, especially our neighbors,” Aravidis said. “Something that I feel like is not talked enough about is all the business that opened last year, and I feel like Raleigh is really starting to recover since Covid.”
In the past year, several stores have opened and closed downtown.
Some downtown residents say the crime nearby is to blame for businesses choosing to leave, citing incidents occurring at Moore Square Station over the years.
Aravidis and Rogers feel downtown sometimes gets a bad rap.
“People can have a strong impression of downtown, and I think that the impression can sometimes be stronger than reality. I think that we do have a safe downtown. We have a downtown that is beautiful to walk around in and bring your family to,” Rogers said.
Some downtown business owners tell WRAL News, if more events were held downtown it would bring in more foot traffic and help small businesses.
“The truth is our downtown is historic, it’s beautiful, it’s really cute,” Rogers said. “Truthfully, we just need things to be happening here that will bring people here.”
Customers have until March 15 to shop at the Green Monkey. After that, operations will be moved online.
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