The Southern Cottage/Green Door Market on Washington Street has been an asset to downtown Vicksburg.

With its country store feel, it has offered locals, as well as visitors to the River City, an inventory of handcrafted items, home décor, gourmet goodies and a plethora of gift ideas.

Kay Monsour, the store’s owner, opened the Southern Cottage/Green Door Market three years ago and has enjoyed serving the needs of the community.

But the time, she said, has come for her to retire.

Saturday will be the last day for shoppers to take advantage of the discounted merchandise. Also, on Friday and Saturday, an estate sale will be held on the market side of the store.

“This is a bittersweet decision,” Kay said. “I will miss the everyday interaction with the people. We had a lot of tourists when the boats were coming in, they always shopped with us.”

Kay, and her husband, Eddie, who recently retired, are looking to move to Florida.

“Eddie is wanting to move to Florida. He has never lived anywhere but in Vicksburg,” Kay said, adding the move will get the couple closer to children and grandchildren who already live in Flordia.

Kay and Eddie currently live in the apartment above the store and will be letting go of furniture pieces that will not be moving with them.

Display cabinets, mannequin torsos and anything not sold this weekend will also be for sale during the second week in August when Kay makes a return trip to Vicksburg.

“I will be back on Aug. 12 and we will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that week,” she said.

Kay said she had been hoping someone would be interested in taking over the store, but realized with the COVID-19 pandemic, chances were slim.

“But if anyone does ( want to take over the store),” she said, “It would be a great opportunity.”

On the market side of the business, coolers are already set up just waiting for someone who may be interested in opening a downtown grocery. The building, including the retail space and apartment, is owned by Kelle Barfield.

The store will be open this Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the store will be open from 8 a.m. until.