“After 25 years + 6 months, as these strange days take their toll on us all, the time has come for us to say goodbye to our Dupont Circle location”

1350 Connecticut Ave, NW. Photo by Flickr user Dan Zink

From an email (thanks to all who forwarded) from Proper Topper:

“After 25 years + 6 months, as these strange days take their toll on us all, the time has come for us to say goodbye to our Dupont Circle location, the sweet little shop we’ve thrived in and loved for so long. Too small to safely distance, too few shoppers downtown, too hard to hang on any longer … too familiar, right? My heart goes out to everyone suffering loss right now.

We look forward to welcoming you into our Cathedral Commons shop (3322 Wisconsin Ave, NW), just a couple of miles north and large enough to navigate more safely. And we always welcome you online, where our virtual shop is lush with new offerings to brighten your day and lighten your way. When have you ever needed our whimsical, comforting treats more?

But right now, I would like to take a moment to honor our long run in the spot and the neighborhood we loved so well.

Since the sunny spring day in 1995 when I opened this little shop (my third Proper Topper at that point, but as history now informs, my most enduring), I’ve loved being part of the beautiful, quirky Dupont Circle community. We’ve known our neighbors here for generations; they have been our friends and family. We’ve helped them celebrate promotions, weddings, new arrivals. So many birthdays, anniversaries and graduations! And losses. We’ve comforted and grieved. We’ve supported fundraisers, raised money ourselves, and cheered on our neighbors’ missions.

We miss having the chance to say goodbye in person and celebrate the years we had together. Picture a big party and warm hugs all around . . . in a more perfect world. Please know how much we’ve loved you, our thousands of kind customers and hundreds of amazing employees.

Until we meet again,
Stay well
Anna”