Twice Is Nice Transforms School Teacher Into Business Owner

Being a small business owner wasn’t originally in the plans for Marie Thompkins.

The Groton City resident and Mystic co-owner of was a special education teacher in a different life. Over the past seven years, she has grown into her role as business owner, and the shop on Roosevelt Avenue in Mystic wouldn’t be the same without her passion for the store and its history.

“It’s so intriguing,” Thompkins said of her new profession. “You never know what’s going to come into the store.”

The shop she owns with her husband, Daniel, receives about 350 to 500 items daily that people are looking to sell, she said. Twice is Nice takes in and sells children’s clothing and accessories for boys and girls, and was winner of the

“I was a little surprised,” Thompkins said of the support for the store. “It was such a wide-ranging poll I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out but it’s such an established shop.”

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Founded by Pamela Hartman, the Twice is Nice is almost 30 years old.

“On the first day she opened she sold everything,” Thompkins said.

The store used to be run from the basement of 19 Roosevelt Avenue while Hartman rented the upstairs. But it did so well she expanded to its current location.

Hartman’s husband was Daniel’s captain at the fire department, and the Hartmans became like a second set of parents to him. Seven years ago, the couple offered to sell the shop to the Thompkins.

Thompkins said it was difficult to switch from teaching to running a small business, although she'd been looking to leave the teaching profession. Having an established staff helped, she said.

“It’s a tough business,” Thompkins said. “I’ve seen a few shops open and close.”

But Thompkins said the store hasn’t seen any real change in the past seven years, even with the slower economy.

She said there are new faces, but many tourists also wander into the shop, partly because it's near the train station.

“The customers are always happy,” Thompkins said.