Tin Rabbit Decor Announces Closure

May 18, 2026
• The gift shop and art space will close its doors at the end of the month, but the owner will continue creating and teaching in her own artist studio in Norwood.

Since opening her Chapel Street store in September 2018, Hilary Chandler has endured the ups and downs.

“Done the covid thing. I’ve done the tariff thing,” she said. “There’s been some challenges, but it’s been challenging for all of us in these small towns. You’ve just gotta roll with it and fight through it.”

The owner and artist — who features her own work in the store, alongside Needham-themed items and other homewares — announced she would be vacating the shop at 85 Chapel St. the end of May. Chandler will be moving into a studio space in Norwood’s Winsmith Mill, the very same building where she first rented a booth around 2017.

As a local business owner, wholesale supplier and art teacher, Chandler said she’s used to staying busy. “I wear a lot of hats here,” she said. Upon reflection, she said she wants more freedom to expand with her art. She currently decoupages and paints shells she collects from beaches in Hull and Revere, many of which go to places like Dallas, where seashell art is more of a unique commodity. Chandler also designs wine stoppers out of shells and creates maps for different towns.

“Anyone who knows me knows I’m really artsy,” she said, “and I just feel like [my] talent is more in the studio, rather than being behind a desk at this point.”

Chandler said she began looking for a studio about six months ago. She’s letting her Needham lease run through this month, during which she hopes to continue clearing her inventory before a trip to England in June.

“Although I’ve enjoyed being here, being part of a community, and meeting everyone here and their dogs, it’s going to be a different sort of transition for me,” Chandler said, “but there is a big artist community in the [Norwood] building, so I’m jumping from one community to another.”

Tin Rabbit is one of several outgoing local businesses: Wesleaf, the Great Plain Avenue plant design store, closed in April, and Sky Candle, the Boston-based candle store, announced its closure in February after opening in August 2024.

However, new businesses have opened in recent months, including Elite Dough Cookies at 54 Highland Ave. and The Bookshop of Needham, which celebrated its grand opening in February, at 283 Chestnut St.

Tracey Antaya, director of membership at the Charles River Regional Chamber, said times are tough for retailers. High rents, high costs, difficulties with shipping and competing with online businesses all pose challenges, Antaya said.

Tin Rabbit closing shop is a loss, Antaya said, and the chamber hopes to see a new retailer attract more foot traffic through the area.

“Our downtowns are the most vibrant parts of our communities, and they are areas where people come together,” she said, “and having one less retailer really plays a big role in that.”

While there’s no news yet of a potential replacement, Chandler said she’s received inquiries from a few people.

During her trip abroad, Chandler plans to learn how to make glass bowls, an expansion of her glass plate artistry, so she may be able to hold more classes out of her Norwood studio. She previously worked in house planning and architectural designs before she experienced “this sort of planetary shift” that called her to try something new.

The 85 Chapel St. shop boasts big windows and a fortunate spot across from French Press, which attracted Chandler to the spot. Her brother and sister-in-law also lived in Needham for about 20 years.

The name Tin Rabbit is a nod to Chandler’s mother, whose nickname was rabbit. It’s an homage to her mom that she shares with neighboring businesses — Shop Micki, also on Chapel Street, pays tribute to the owner’s mother, and Proud Mary Gifts on Great Plain Avenue is named after the owner’s mother.

Deciding to leave Needham took time, Chandler said, but she looks forward to what’s next.

“I’ll miss my neighbors on Chapel and Great Plain,” she said. “It’s been a joy to be here.”