The Woman's Industrial Exchange shop, a staple in Baltimore for more than a century, has closed for a "temporary hiatus," but will reopen in four to six months, according to the president of its board of directors.
The nonprofit sells various jewelry, art, clothing and other small gifts. Last year, the Woman's Industrial Kitchen closed, ending a more than two-year effort to revive the historic restaurant.
The Charles Street gift shop closed Dec. 23 so that staff could do inventory, reorganize and look at the business model, according to Vickie Gray, president of the board of directors of The Woman's Industrial Exchange of Baltimore, the name of the 135-year-old non-profit organization that owns the building and continues to operate a consignment gift store on its first floor. The public face of the organization, which includes the store, is now known as The Women's Exchange.
"What people don't realize is that the Women's Exchange is a nonprofit," she said. "It has the mission of making women financially independent.
"The current board wants to close the shop and look at the business model. The model we've been using, is the model we've used for decades. We may go back to that model of consignment. We may look at something different. We will look to open in the spring."
However, the restaurant will not reopen, according to Gray.
"We have no plans to reopen the restaurant," she said. "It's becoming a popular venue for private events and meetings."