Anna Pearl’s Curiosities (APC), a jewelry boutique on Main Street, has recently moved across the street due to construction and limited space in their previous building.

The newest owner, Anastasia Egan, stresses the importance of her lineage in her journey of both gaining responsibility of APC and moving locations. Her great- grandmother owned a separate jewelry shop in New London throughout the 1940s, which inspired future generations. Anastasia’s mother, Sharon Egan, later began APC 13 years ago.

“[Sharon’s] family told her she had to start a business because she had amassed too much of a collection of things. We were like ‘You have so many things, you need to do something with this,’” Anastasia said.

Sharon opened APC in 2012 inside of Main Street’s Therapeutic Touch Massage Therapy’s building.

“She was in a literal room that they used as a closet in the very back corner. She started there, and then the storefront across the street became available two years later, and she decided to move in there,” Anastasia said.

Anastasia had always enjoyed helping her mom out on Anna Pearl’s and was always willing to provide her insight and advice on different decisions regarding the boutique. Anastasia eventually took over for Sharon.

“When she moved into her new location, it became a much bigger business. That’s when she called me and said ‘quit your job and come work for me.’ Then, it was eventually ‘work with me,’ and then it was finally ‘take over,’” Anastasia said.

Prior to becoming APC’s owner, Anastasia worked as a theater professional and artisan. She states that her previous job had a lot of overlap with being a boutique owner.

“I have spent the last five years of my journey here teaching myself how to be a jeweler and do the repairs and make my own stuff, and so I’ve kind of grown and adapted with the business in that sense,” Anastasia said.

On May 1, Anastasia moved into her new location across the street from the old, 281 Main Street.

“At our old location, we had a harsh summer with construction, and I was like ‘I have bad vibes about this spot, and I don’t want to be here anymore,’” Anastasia said.

Anna Pearl’s has majorly developed and grown as a business since COVID and needed a fresh start. Although the move was just across the street, Anastasia has seen growth in her business ever since. The new location is in a more visible spot and they have noticed more traffic due to the neighboring popular restaurants.

Anastasia is proud to carry on her family business and looks forward to how APC will grow and develop in its future.