Last Tuesday, owner of the popular novelty shop in downtown Northampton, Peter Vogel, said in a statement to masslive.com that Faces is set to close early this year. A specific date is yet to be announced.

The iconic store has been open for more than forty years and is one of the most popular landmarks in Northampton, attracting people from all over to visit the small shop. The store carries unusual and unique items, along with eccentric window displays, two of the many reasons it will be missed by the community.

In an interview with masslive.com, Vogel explained how “the pressures of running an independent store, including the increasing costs of health insurance, personnel, taxes and business insurance, and utilities,” were taxing, and led to his ultimate decision to close the business.

Vogel admits that the enterprise is still profitable and he is willing to sell it. “If someone or some group would like to have the Faces experience live on, then anything is possible,” he stated. Customers remain hopeful that someone will come forward and purchase the small business.

The backlash from Twitter users is extensive, with more than 250 tweets from angry and sad shoppers commenting on the closing of the store. The majority of the tweets go something like twitter user, @luxecm’s tweet: “FACES IS CLOSING #NO #imcrying”, and @catsimonds’s tweet: “Worst part of my day: finding out faces is closing in Northampton.” Twitter user @AlexLyman89 added “I refuse to believe Faces is closing. It’s the worst.”

In the meantime, shoppers continue to flock in and out of the store to stock up on miscellaneous items before it closes.