After more than three decades in business at the busy corner of routes 302 and 115 in North Windham, Squirrel Crossing will be soon closing its doors on Sept. 3.

According to co-owner Pam Graffius, Squirrel Crossing was known for a long time as The Barn, because of its location inside a barn off a main house where she grew up. Graffius’s mother and father, Betty and Carl, started the business on July 9, 1969 as a shoe store but after six months switched to selling antiques and other collectibles changing the name to “The Barn.”

About five years ago, with the presence of other businesses in Windham that had the word “barn” in their titles, the family decided to change the name of the business to Squirrel Crossing. “Squirrel” because the abundant presence of squirrels in the area and “Crossing” because of the location beside a busy intersection.

With the name change came a change in product as well, with antiques being replaced with assorted gift items.

“It was a family decision to change,” Graffius said. “The antiques market changed dramatically with the launching of Ebay and group shops, and it became increasingly hard to acquire antiques at a reasonable cost. The amount of people selling and trying to acquire (antiques) to re-sell really took off nationwide.”

Since 2000, Squirrel Crossing has specialized in replacement parts for kerosene lamps, chimneys and glass lampshades, country primitive and cottage dA?©cor, as well as distressed and used furniture (described by Graffius as furniture “that has seen a lot of love and use”). The shop also sells bath and body products, greeting cards and other home and personal products.

Graffius said the family decided to close up shop partly because of a string of offers they have received from developers eager to capitalize on the store’s prime location. Graffius wouldn’t share exact plans but did say that within the past few years the family has received four offers from serious developers.

“With all of the growth in Windham, this store location has become very valuable,” Graffius said. “We’ve been approached numerous times so it seems like a lot of things are coming together.”

Another reason for the store’s closing is because the family is seeking “a change.”

“It’s been open in one form or another for 36 years – since 1969,” Pam said. “I grew up working here and I’ve been back for 15 years as office manager and purchaser. My dad is 78 and ready to retire and perhaps move to Portland. We’re all ready for a change.”

While 50-year-old Graffius is looking forward to a 9 to 5, Monday through Friday sort of job where she’ll have weekends to herself, she views Squirrel Crossing’s closing as “bittersweet.”

“We’ll certainly miss all the people we’ve met,” Graffius said. “It’s been fun buying antiques, but we’re excited about the future.”

Squirrel Crossing’s closure is another in a long line of small businesses closing in North Windham. Photo Barn and Linda’s Flowers are some recent examples of small businesses either being forced to sell due to bigger competition or choosing to sell to take advantage of exploding property values.

“I can remember when we had parking spaces in front of the store until they took it away to widen the road,” Graffius said. “But, overall, it’s nice to have a lot of services here. You always had to go to Portland for things you can now find here. I’ve felt sad that Windham didn’t have more of a historical feel to it. It is definitely going toward the big national chain feel.”