Two longtime retail tenants have left the former Fligor’s clothing and gift store on North Water street in Edgartown, making way for a pair of clothing shops.

North Water notified customers earlier this year that it was on the move. — Ray Ewing

North Water Gallery and the Bryn Walker have both left the storefronts earlier this spring. The neighboring Vineyard Vines clothing store plans to take over the art gallery space and Erica Wilson, a Nantucket-based boutique, is moving into the former clothing store. 

“We were very surprised and saddened that we were unable to come to terms for a lease renewal after a 16-year relationship,” North Water Gallery co-owner Chris Morse told the Gazette earlier this spring. 

A sign for the Erica Wilson store was up this week and construction inside the old gallery is ongoing. Edgartown building inspector Reade Milne, who was inspecting the former North Water location Friday, confirmed Vineyard Vines was expanding, saying the company got approvals from the historic district commission and the building department. 

Started by brothers Shep and Ian Murray on the Vineyard, Vineyard Vines launched its line of neckties at Fligor’s before going on to be a preppy clothing mainstay. 

The company did not respond to requests for comment. 

Andy Fligor, who is managing the building for his parents Carol and Dick, declined to comment on the changes. 

North Water Gallery at its new Edgartown location. — Ray Ewing

While the Bryn Walker shop still has its Vineyard Haven location, North Water Gallery has already opened in a new Edgartown showroom at 31 N. Summer St., where the short-lived Mariner Gallery was located last summer.

Mr. Morse said the gallery, managed by his sister Robin Nagle, has a five-year lease with building owner Stephen Berger for the new space.

“It’s about 20 per cent smaller, [but] it has a lot more storage space and the elasticity of space will work out just fine for us,” Mr. Morse said.

“And we have had such an outpouring of our loyal patrons and artists — everyone is rooting for us in our new space,” he said.