Franklin Street thrift store Time After Time closes after 33 years

It’s been more than 30 years for Ann Jackson and Steven Schrenzel , the owners of Time After Time vintage thrift store, but the two say time has slipped by quickly.

“It all just seems like a blur of sequins and beads and Halloween costumes,” Jackson said.

After 33 years, the vintage Franklin Street thrift store locked its doors for the last time Tuesday.

Jackson and Schrenzel said they were ready to retire. The two are now in their 60s and said they wanted to go out while they were still on top.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Jackson said.

Jackson opened the store three decades ago as a hobby, and she said she was thankful she spent her life doing something she wanted.

“I feel like we’re the luckiest people in the world,” she said. “I don’t have to go, ‘Oh God, I’ve gotta work for five more years.’”

Jackson said the most interesting parts of her job were being her own boss and seeing how things had changed between when they opened the shop and when they closed it, especially in regards to popular culture.

She also said she would miss all of the interesting people in the store.

“We get the fun people, and we get the alternative oddballs,” Jackson said.

The store was featured in GQ magazine in 2010 as one of the top 25 thrift stores in the country , which Jackson said was a proud moment for them.

Jackson said Halloween was one of the busiest times of the year, sometimes requiring the store to hire a bouncer.

Chloe Willow , a Chapel Hill resident, said she has been shopping at Time After Time for about five years and she was going to miss the vintage style most of all.

“I like how it’s all vintagey and fun,” she said. “It’s a lot different than other stores.”

Autumn Spencer , a Time After Time employee of 11 years, said she started working at the store because she loves vintage clothing.

She said she expected the store to be a fun place to work, and she isn’t disappointed it’s over.

Spencer, who will now manage Jackson and Schrenzel’s lampshade company, added that she would miss being able to see customers change and grow up.

“Every day here is nutty and fun,” Spencer said.

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