A new department store in Middletown’s historic downtown shopping district celebrated its grand opening on Friday.

The store, New Middletown, is located on 29 North St., which is the former location of the old Tompkins department store.

The business sells handpicked items from around the world, including jewelry and apparel.

The store’s marketing director says they’re excited to bring back a piece of Middletown’s history.

“Many locals have told us they remember when they were kids their parents and grandparents would bring them here to take photos with Santa,” says Sammie Song. “We want to bring this back to the community to give them a chance to let them shot in the local community, meet with their local neighborhood and shop in person.”

Downtown Middletown was once a thriving shopping hub in the 50s but lost many of their businesses when bigger shopping stores and malls came into the area years later. The downtown area has since seen a revitalization in recent years thanks to local and state efforts, and grants.