For Meredith McCahan, the decision to move her store away from downtown Wilmington didn’t come easy.

McCahan has owned A Second Time Around since 2004, and the vintage clothing and accessory resale store has been located at 143 N. Front St. since 2005. This spring, McCahan will open the store in a new location she’s buying at 3518 Wrightsville Ave.

“It really is bittersweet, leaving downtown, but we’ve really loved being here. I wish whoever comes in next all the best. I think they’re going to have a great space and a great time here,” McCahan said Tuesday.

The last day of business at the nearly 7,000-square-foot downtown location is Jan. 30. McCahan said a number of factors led to the move, with a major reason being a desire for a smaller store. In addition to owning rather than leasing, McCahan said the store’s new space will also allow her to cut down on the expenses of running a larger establishment.

“It’s going to be about 1,400 square feet,” McCahan said of the Wrightsville Avenue space where she plans to reopen the store in April. “We had tremendously more [space] here...We were ready to downsize after 11 years. We’re still going to be focusing on vintage clothing and jewelry and accessories.”

Tom Heitman, owner of Wilmington Commercial Real Estate, is handling the purchase of the Wrightsville Avenue property for McCahan, who has the space under contract.

The North Front Street location is owned by Fisher Holdings LLC, and McCahan has worked with Coastal Realty Co. brokers Herbert Fisher and his son, Carlton Fisher, through the years while she leased the store. A new tenant to take the place of A Second Time Around has not yet been announced.

McCahan said over the years, A Second Time Around’s signature window displays have become popular with customers and passersby, who have told her they will miss them when the store moves.

“They have always been one of my most favorite stores with the throw-back storefront,” said John Hinnant, a commercial real estate broker with Maus Warwick Matthews & Co.

One of the highlights of those displays, a lamp that looks like a mannequin wearing a tight red leather dress, is among items of the store’s decor moving to the new location, said McCahan, who purchased it at an antiques festival in Cameron.

A Second Time Around is currently holding moving sales, including 60 percent off vintage clothing and women’s jewelry that is priced at $20 or more, McCahan said. As part of a going-away party, she’s holding a $25 bag sale on whatever clothing is left starting at 6 p.m. Jan. 29. The store is currently open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

“We’re all excited about the next steps and certainly wish downtown all the best. So many wonderful things are happening here now,” McCahan said as she worked in the North Front Street store on Tuesday morning. “But I’ll be part of it, as a customer.”