Bye, Bye, Birdie 

Beloved downtown Southern Pines gift shop Mockingbird on Broad is closing after 15 years. When she announced the closure in a video last week, owner Sundi McLaughlin said the store would be open until the end of February. This week, she said her remaining inventory is selling faster than expected, so her last day could come sooner. 

Sundi told The Pilot that her revenue had been falling short of goals, and that she’s seen less foot traffic and noticed a trend of more direct-to-consumer online shopping.

“ Where you’re spending your dollars, you’re voting for your town,” she said. “ It might seem dramatic, but I’m worried. In the ’80s, all these towns closed down because of big box malls or factories (closing). A lot of those towns have reemerged, but now the internet is so strong.”

As a small consolation, Sundi told us she plans to keep the social media posts coming. “Where else will I get a chance to vent my snark?” she wrote in a DM.