Atlantic Ave Magazine - April 2017

ography museum. I’m in love with everything.”
With such a fabulous pedigree and a passion
for the natural offspring of the sea, why is this
shop going to close?
“It’s unfortunate that small businesses
aren’t able to make a go of things because of
the rising rents. I discovered that my employees
were not trustworthy and I just couldn’t
put the hours in myself to cover the expenses.
I used to be open at night but I can’t do it anymore,”
said Brookes wistfully.
At first the thought of closing her decorative
house of creativity was not an option, but after
careful consideration it made sense. “Originally
it broke my heart to close, but after I found my
things in someone else’s store for sale, I decided
to close the store this summer.”
But for those who know Brookes they know
she will continue to create things of beauty. After
all this is a woman who has leapt from successful
career to successful career like a Wallenda.
She was a hairdresser (and salon owner) then a
florist and an artist. She is also going to continue
making decorative urns and boxes to hold the last
vestiges of our loved ones. She won’t be selling
them on Atlantic Avenue after July, but she will
be selling them online at beachcomberart.com.
If you want to harken back to the days of
old Brookes has lanterns in painted glass with
reclaimed wood and candles. Add that to the
sea shell adorned lamps with raffia and you
have enough of the aquatic life to sustain you
through a winter in Long Island. If you need a
light to see your way into the future (or down
the hall of your house) then pick up a candle
holder with decorative reflective shells.
There is a rhyme and reason that goes beyond
the obvious here. “In my career as a hairdresser,
florist and artist I learned that it’s all
about balance. There’s positive and negative
space. It’s about taking things away and leaving
others behind.”
Stop by Beachcomber Art and say goodbye.
People like Brookes don’t come around very often.
We know that.
BEACHCOMBER ART DELRAY BEACH
900 East Atlantic Ave
Delray Beach, Florida
(561) 315-5717
www.beachcomberart.com
www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com | April 2017 81