Joette's Gifts in New Hartford won't be closing after all. Owner Joette Swisher has had a change of heart.

Swisher had planned on closing her shop on Genesee Street after 11 years in business and move south to be closer to family but says a number of factors changed her mind. "I reconnected with someone special, I love my house too much to sell it, that hurricane in Florida and I'm a beast in the heat."

The gift shop will stay open but Swisher says she needs to make some changes if she wants to remain open for years to come. "So much online shopping is destroying local businesses. ’ll try to reinvent the store this spring with some higher end sterling and leather goods."

To celebrate her 11th year in business, Swisher has marked everything in her store 50% off for the entire month of February with a donation to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society or the Utica Food Pantry. "It's a win-win."


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