Bags By Iris Loses Lease

Bags By Iris, a Main Street fixture for 25 years, has lost its lease and owner Iris Gesualdi is scrambling to find a new location before July 15. She said her landlord, Arlette Cornwall, plans to open up a consignment shop there.

The notice was a surprise, according to Gesualdi, in particular the short time frame. She said she was told on June 1 her lease wouldn’t be renewed. By law, landlords must give 30 days notice. Because June is only 30 days long, Gesualdi got an extra 15 days. It still may not be enough time, she said.

As a result, she’s got a big sale going on, in hopes of selling as much merchandise as possible. If Gesualdi doesn’t find a new location by July 15, she said she’ll have to put things in storage.

Despite all the turnover on Main Street, Gesualdi has not been able to find a space that works, she said. She can't take just any space – clothing stores need good front windows, she said, that’s what sells merchandise.

Bags By Iris sells clothing mainly, but lots of bags (obviously), and accessories. It’s an eclectic shop that carries popular brands like with Alex and Ani jewelry and Vera Bradley bags.

Gesualdi would like to stay in East Greenwich. Coincidentally (ironically?), she's celebrating 25 years of business in town. For the first 14 years, the shop was next door, at 109 Main Street. It moved to 111 Main Street – right across the street from Town Hall – 11 years ago.

“I have such fabulous customers,” she said. They come from all over, but there are many in East Greenwich. “I can’t begin to tell you how heart-wrenching this has been.”