For 28 years, Jeanne Marie Klein has scratched customers’ itches for vintage finds at her Bad Girls Antiques storefront in North Bend.

But with changing technology and rising upkeep, it is time for Klein to shut her doors. Bad Girls closes in North Bend at the end of September.

The closure of her storefront is simply a transition for Klein.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” she said.

Klein will focus on online sales, and will also offer items at the Gilman Antique Gallery in Issaquah, antique shows such as the PalmerWirfs Shows at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, and manage estate sales.

Continuing in her profession, she will keep her phone number and Web site address.

“I’m still doing it, but differently,” she said. “I’m downsizing.

“It’s a huge storefront,” Klein added. “Keeping it full and trying to sell more on eBay while running the business is hard to do.”

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Klein founded her business as a secondhand store in 1984. She turned to antiques and changed the name after she parted ways with her business partner after the first three years.

“I basically reverted to the wild ways of my youth and changed it to Bad Girls Antiques,” Klein said. Customers grew to love the name.

Klein prides herself on offering quality items at low prices, and gives credit to the locals who provide her with finds.

“Mostly local people bring items to me, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve hung on so long,” Klein said. “Usually you have to go out and buy, go to estate sales at the crack of dawn, and it’s a dog-eat-dog world.”

Watching the industry over the years, to this day Klein still can’t predict the antique business. Between wild weather and the newest fads, Klein said she never knows what’s going to be a hot seller.

“With eBay prices going down, along with the economy, there are things I could’ve sold 15 years ago for more than today,” she said

What Klein will miss the most are her customers and the amazing items they walk in with.

“It’s kind of like Christmas,” she said.

“I want to thank my customers,” Klein added. “I would never have done it without them. It’s a really good community of people out here.”

Through the month, all items are discounted.

“A lot of people out there, mostly locals, have been itching to get in the closed-off areas of the store, so now they’ll be able to,” Klein said. “It’ll be a digger sale. Doors are open, bring a box and we’ll give you a price.”

Klein would like to inform friends of her store cat, Paige, that she has found a home with a family in West Seattle.

Paige had been the store’s mascot for the last 12 years.

To contact Jeanne Marie Klein call (425) 888-1902 or visit www.badgirlsantiques.com.