Old Company Store owner Sandi Assad never thought she’d retire, but after 23 years of providing old fashioned customer service in a historic building, she will close the business sometime this summer.

“I had always thought I was going to go out feet first but you know, I think I’d like to walk out instead and do something fun,” said Assad.

Assad opened the Old Company Store on April 1, 1993. It was a lucky coincidence that brought her attention to the business, located on Elm Street. Her husband and daughter walked into the building just days before it was set to close by the previous tenant.

“One girl was sitting here waiting for the end of the day and I said, ‘oh no, it’s not going to shut down, that’s not happening,” recalled Assad. “We said we’re going to take over and the rest is history.”

Since then, the store earned a reputation as the place to get gifts for all occasions. Penny candy, chocolate, jewelry, books and many more items, often with local connections, are for sale. Assad, along with her daughters Cindi Assad and Shari Aussant manage the store together.

In a nod to its roots, the store also sells nails manufactured by the Tremont Nail Company, which was established in 1819 and is still in operation. The company’s original factory stands across the street, but operations have since moved to Mansfield. The Old Company Store resides in a building that was constructed in 1890 and opened as a general store for nail factory employees, hence the name.

Looking back, Assad said she had many wonderful memories. For Assad, opening the store was about being an active member of the community.

“We used to have open houses and invite the whole town,” she said. “We used to have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people in this little building.”

Hosting carriage rides, "Elf on the Shelf" events at Christmas and a visit from Burt Shavitz, founder of Burt’s Bees, are some of Assad’s fondest memories.

Watching customers grow up and return with children of their own is another highlight, she said.

“Some of our customers used to come in here when they were five years old,” she said. “And now they’re coming back years later with little ones of their own, it’s really something.”

While the store has its loyal customers, Assad said when the town shut down the Elm Street bridge in 2014 business suffered. Deemed unsafe by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the bridge is closed indefinitely for safety reasons.

“People are creatures of habit, they were used to driving down Elm Street seeing our store and stopping in,” said Assad.

While an official closing date is not set, Assad estimated she will step down sometime in July. Until then, retirement sales will be ongoing.

She thanked everyone who helped make the Old Company Store a success.

“We are exceedingly grateful for all the years we’ve been here and all the fun we’ve had,” said Assad. “It wasn’t work; it was coming in to see friends all the time.”

The Old Company Store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.