Sea Horse Gift Shop in Freeport closing after 35 years on Nautical Mile

After 35 summers on Freeport's Nautical Mile, Sea Horse Gift Shop is preparing to close, marking the end of a long-running family business that its owner says could no longer withstand declining foot traffic and shifting retail trends.

"My wife and I and my daughter put a lot of years into this store, and we hate to see it have to go," owner Mike Kaland, 83, said in a phone interview. "But it can't be kept open anymore."

The shop announced its closure in a Facebook post on Thursday. Kaland said business has steadily declined in recent years. He pointed to the rise of online shopping and fewer visitors along the Nautical Mile as key factors in the store's struggles.

"Everything's changed in the retail world," he said. "And the location's changed; there's very few people. The economy — it's a whole mess of things. And it's just not worth keeping this going."

"It's a sign of the times," he added. "We're not the only small business closing."

He said the downturn was gradual but worsened recently.

"COVID was probably the big nail in the coffin," Kaland said, adding that poor summer weather in recent years also hurt the business.

The shop, which sells clothing, hats, souvenirs and nautical-themed décor, has long been a fixture on Woodcleft Avenue, a strip of shops and restaurants along the Woodcleft Canal known as the Nautical Mile.

"It used to be exciting," he said. "There's not as much traffic down here anymore. It's quiet. It's different vibes — not just here, everywhere."

There is no official closing date yet, but Kaland said the store will remain open for at least another month as the family works through its inventory. Most merchandise in the store is being sold at 40% off, according to a sign in the store window.

In a letter posted on Facebook Thursday, the Kalands thanked their customers and the Nautical Mile community "for giving us 35 years of memories that we will carry with us forever."

"We may be closing the doors of the Sea Horse," the letter says, "but we are not closing the chapter on the people we have come to love."