Boing Boing to Close, Owner Heading to Haiti
Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 8:31AM 
Boing Boing, the maternity shop that has been "at your cervix" on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Union Street since 1996, will be closing soon, according to an email sent by founder and owner Karen Paperno, who has decided to explore other options. It appears as if her first move will involve a trip to Haiti that she's started an Indiegogo campaign for.
The first shop in America to focus exclusively on breastfeeding and babywearing, Boing Boing is still one the top spots in the borough not only for necessary supplies (everything from the country's largest selection of nursing bras to pumps, books, and baby toys and clothes), but for expertise. Paperno is incredibly knowledgeable on every aspect of maternity, and in fact started up one of the first mother's groups in the community.
Paperno has been invited by a baby sling company to travel to Haiti to give maternity advice, promote breastfeeding, and distribute slings, and she's raising $8,000 to "cover Insurance, Immunization, tickets, luggage, cost of living, shipping & donating goods from the shop, camera and cell for documentation, costs of closing the shop, safety measures, etc." Excess funds will go continue her "mission and outreach to isolated and needy communities."
No word on when exactly the shop will close, or what she plans on doing after returning from Haiti. You can follow her progress on Facebook; she's currently raised more than $800.
Closing in Storefronts
Reader Comments (33)
Shed been having money problems for some time, couldnt transition to a 21st century business with a proper website, social media campaigns and electronic books etc
She famously chronicled her downward spiral blaiming gentrification on Huff Post which got picked up by the Times and other papers
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-paperno/hiding-in-plain-sight_b_4490436.html
Gentrification was her problem? Come on!!! It's not like when she opened her store in 1996 that Park Slope was "the hood". What a joke!!
I wish her well though.
Thanks for posting that Huffington Post link, jbob. I have little sympathy for business-owners who resist change with a chip on their shoulder.
Seems like someone could swoop in and make the store a success again. Wouldnt' be "that" hard.
I kind of feel like a sucker here. Being a resident of Park Slope and knowing how many mom's she's helped in this neighborhood, I donated to her last campaign to save the shop after reading the article in the Huffington Post. I'm not even a mom. I just donated cause I wanted to contribute to the community. Sent a short and sweet note along with $50 and not so much as a thank you. So, unfortunately I will donate my hard earned money to other causes that actually show some for of appreciation.
She just got thousands in donations a few months ago, never thanked anyone and now is coming back for another 10K for a trip to Haiti? She may be a terrible businesswoman, but she's got some set of balls. If this gets funded, we'll know the old saying is true. There's a sucker born every minute.
Wow! Never knew any of the above!! That really sucks!
We have an usually large number of really terrible businesspeople in Park Slope. Part of the reason there are so many vacancies, just too many really stupid owners who got by for years while rent was low. Now that Park Slope is a grown up neighborhood, it's time we get a few new grown ups to open up some new businesses. This woman should be ashamed. And the people who donated should feel like a sucker. Do you just give to anyone who asks?
Someone should post this to the Boing Boing facebook page.
jfc, i go to haiti ALL THE TIME. each time i go i bring down medicine and a tleast 150 pounds of clothing. i once paid 500 dollars in luggage overage! and i have never once made an indigogo fund raising page.
i'm sorry, but people like this chick really annoy me.
I hope her store closes. With that kind of attitude, it deserves to!
Haiti is so 2010.
She got tired of single trust fund babies moving into a family-friendly neighborhood and running their mouths on blogs, as well as all the big business moving in. When a fine little shop serving families can't survive, you might as well pack it up. A shame.
I wish her the best in Haiti, but they ran that store into the ground and need to accept responsibility instead of blaming...everyone. I have two kids in the neighborhood, and usually pay the little extra to support local merchants. Two different times I went to that store to find a common item; not only didn't they have it in stock, but they couldn't be bothered to order it, tell me when they might get it in, or really even pretend to care. So: bye bye, boing boing.
This sounds like the tale of another ungrateful left-wing Park Sloper. The store only existed because of gentrification; now she's upset about it? Still, will miss the slogan on their sign!
Surprising no one, she is not going to Haiti. Thanks for that grand, Park Slope!
Hello Park Slope Parents community!!
It is with great joy and sadness that I announce the closing of Boing Boing after 18 years. We will be open through the end of September trying to sell off the last of the inventory (‘cuz we still got bills to pay)!
Everything in the store is half-price or more.
FYI--I did not raise enough money to go to Haiti but I will continue my mission of helping mothers wherever I go be it upstate New York the Pine Ridge Reservation or mothers who are incarcerated.
I am so grateful to have served you for this time and my heart has been touched in places that I never knew existed by so many of you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life! I have always tried to do my best to serve you and I truly hope I have helped.
Please call ahead at (718) 398-0251 to make sure we are open. Store hours are Tuesday to Sunday 11 to 4ish.
I don't have any information about what the new rent will be or what business may be going in the space. I hope it's a great one.
Thank you Park slope!!
Humbled,
Karen
I hope her store closes. With that kind of attitude, it deserves to!
I hope her store closes. With that kind of attitude, it deserves to! Happy New Year Wishes 20
The article content is very good and very attractive, hope to see you more of the article china wholesale
OMG , Amazing !! Everything Informative
This Is really Ah Very good post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a superb article…
Thanks For Sharing
Nice article
CBSE Result 2017
Very much interesting to read such a nice a posting / article
CBSE 10th Result 2017
Nice and informative
CBSE 12th Result 2017
Happy Valentines Day Quotes
Thank you for these excellent tips. Some of them are totally new knowledge for me. I am a new blogger and will be using some of them.
Valentunes day memes
google news
approved Domain