NEWS

Moms to be… no more on Bayview

Karen Becker
SO LONG, BAYVIEW: Karen Becker is leaving behind her neighbourhood early-childhood products store to focus on a line of infant clothing.

It’s a Friday afternoon, the first day of spring, and Moms to be…and More is a beehive of activity, with more than two dozen overdressed shoppers browsing its selection of early-childhood products.

Since opening in 1994, the 1642 Bayview Ave. store has been a destination for young families in Leaside, shoppers say, and by owner Karen Becker’s account last year was a good one. But the size of today’s crowd belies the notice posted at the entrance: after more than 20 years the retailer of baby carriers, infant clothing, bedding and furniture will be closing up on May 3.

Becker cites pressure from online retailers and a need to devote time to nurturing the development of her line of infant clothing as determining factors in closing the store.

Jenna Metcalfe, 43, is among the neighbourhood parents saying they’re sad to see it go. She was referred by a neighbour, and wound up creating the registry for her baby shower here.

“It’s such a good one-stop-shop for us in the neighbourhood, and it’s got a lot of unique things that you wouldn’t find at a bigger retailer, like Toys R Us,” Metcalfe said.

Kim Harkness, a 41-year-old mother from the city’s west end, said she was shocked by the store-closing announcement. She called the store a “landmark.”

“When I was pregnant, it was the first place people said to go for your registry,” she said. “I liked that you could see everything all at once … and the staff was really knowledgable and helpful.”

Another disappointed fan is Ward 22 councillor and neighbourhood resident Josh Matlow, who called the store a “major institution.”

“As the dad of a 2-year-old, I’m very sad to see it go,” he said. “We shopped there all the time.”

Becker says she agonized over the decision for two years before electing to close the store. It had become more difficult to run as competition shifted from brick-and-mortar neighbours to online retailers, she said.

“We ended with great numbers last year, but there’s also great expense that goes with that,” said Becker, her voice retaining a hint of its native English accent. “I wanted to leave when the going was good.”

And Juddlies Designs, the nationally distributed line of infant clothing she started with a partner five years ago, was “needing some TLC,” she said.

“It’s needing some TLC, which I don’t really have time to give,” she said, then quipped: “Well, I could if I didn’t want sleep, but I think I’d like to sleep.”