August 19, Two LiRu Antiques & Decor, Acworth’s most loved trinket shop, celebrated their final day in their building. The highly-praised decor shop on the infamous Main Street of Acworth enticed customers of other local businesses such as Scoops and the Acworth Bookstore & Coffee Shop. However, this all changed when Acworth provided Two LiRu with a 60-day notice to vacate their inhabited building.
“Two LiRu Antique is a staple of downtown Acworth and it is a shame that they are being forced to downsize. It will be much harder for me to find cheap but good quality old vinyls and records like they had at the antique store. The store also holds a lot of southern and generally Americana antique memorabilia that will be lost because of the downsize,” NC junior Evan Fernandez said.
From dated trinkets to priceless memorabilia, two LiRu featured a variety of items. With two floors of baubles as far as the eye can see, every person could find a perfect piece to purchase. The main floor contained more than ten sections of various decorations and aged knick-knacks. The basement housed VHS tapes, DVDs, toys and t-shirts upwards of $200. The products featured throughout flooded the hearts of shoppers with a sense of nostalgia.
Before moving, Two LiRu offered major sales as they inched closer to their last day; customers could snag a deal at up to 60% off. A vacate notice forced the shop to move to a 2,000-square-foot building—an 8,000-square-foot decrease from their original location. Two LiRu chose to rebrand, changing their name to Acworth Vintage & Vinyl.
Habitués of Two LiRu feel heartbroken to see this change. A smaller building means fewer items to purchase, which Two LiRu previously supplied an abundance of. For customers, the first sign that the shop started to close appeared with the eye-catching red banners hung outside the storefront. This alarming announcement shocked a majority of long-time fans, including the owners of the store. Various shoppers, however, feel hopeful for the store’s success.
“I am a big fan of thrift stores and antique stores, so I am excited to see what Acworth Vintage & Vinyl has to offer. It is a shame the store will be smaller, but I am so ready to go shopping and spend all my money,” NC alumna Claire Kinsinger said.
The transformation of Two LiRu to Acworth Vintage & Vinyl shows residents how Acworth continues to change. While the walkability of Two LiRu is defined as a major appeal for customers, Acworth Vintage & Vinyl does not provide any short paths to the store. Additionally, the new location covers only one-fifth of Two LiRu’s surface area. Although the shop survived the COVID-19 pandemic, it could not survive the wrath of changing times. Acworth Vintage & Vinyl plans to open in the near future, even allowing specific guests in early.
“It would be impossible to try to express what an honor and privilege it has been to serve all of you over the years…our friends, our customers, our community. You have all contributed to making Two LiRu a true success, allowing us to leave proud of what we were able to accomplish here. You have made our lives so very full and rich and we will carry these amazing memories with us forever,” store owner Lisa Mack said.
