The Surrey in Potomac Village Heading To New Pastures

POTOMAC VILLAGE, Md. (WUSA) -- The banner going up outside the Surrey in Potomac Village signals the end of an era.

The long time gear store and meeting place for horse lovers and people looking for unique gifts is moving on after 56 years.

"It's terribly sad; it's history," Jaye Younkers says of the store where she's worked for 18 years. "It's where I first came when I started to ride at 5-years-old. "

Owner Lynn Morgan first worked here when she was just 14.

"It's a great way to combine a job and my passion, which is horseback riding," Morgan says.

Some employees of The Surrey remember riding their horses up to the front of the store. Now that the area has changed and the horse people are moving out to the country, the Surrey has decided to follow.

"Between the economy, the rent and changes in the area, it was time for us to move on," Morgan says.

Barbara Thomas, who's worked at Potomac Hair Design next door for 20 years, says losing The Surrey is like a death in the family.

Thomas says,"It's a funeral for The Surrey. It's enough to break your heart."

Some are unhappy with the chain stores picking off the mom and pop shops one by one.

"You like your Starbucks," Tacha Vandeck says. "But when these stores get too big, it's a problem. You don't want to buy everything at Walgreens. Sometimes you want something special."

The Surrey's owners are looking for a new place in Poolesville or Darnestown, and they're hoping their customers will follow them.

"I'm glad they're moving and not closing," Jennifer Tordella says.