After serving the Portland community with unique swimwear for nearly two decades, Popina Swimwear's brick-and-mortar presence is coming to an end. The owner, Lulu Levenson, confirmed that the boutique at 2393 N.E. Fremont St. will shut its doors this summer, according to a report by The Oregonian/OregonLive. The company, however, will keep its online and wholesale operations running.

Popina, known for its retro-inspired swimwear, first opened in 2006 in Portland's Cully neighborhood in a compact 250 square-foot space. It later expanded, and at one point, operated out of two locations, before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a scaling back, according to an interview with KOIN 6. In a move resembling semi-retirement, Lulu Levenson cites the desire for simplification and a step toward retirement as primary reasons for the closure.

"It's really a step toward retirement. It's been 18 years of retail, and we're just ready to be done with it, that's really the bottom line," Lulu Levenson told The Portland Business Journal. She reminisced about the joy of helping women find the right swimsuit and appreciated the local community's support. She expressed that while the retail landscape is evolving, there remains a need for customers to have a place to try on items, "especially swimwear because it is such a hard thing to buy."

In her statement obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Lulu said, "I am ready to step back from retail and simplify my life." She and her husband, Willie, plan on managing the remaining aspects of the business together. Willie will also dedicate more time to his nonprofit, the Human Access Project that promotes the preservation and enjoyment of the Willamette River. Before closing in July, customers can expect sales at the NE Fremont location, as Popina Swimwear transitions to focus on its wholesale and online market segments.