A popular shop in downtown Oswego will soon be closing its doors.

Rebecca Christiansen, founder of A Pinch of Happiness Spice Shop, located along Washington Street (Route 34) just west of Main Street, has announced the store will soon cease operations in the village.

Christiansen, also confirmed that Celebrate Differences, a not-for-profit she founded with family and friends in 2007 that worked to increase acceptance and opportunities for those with disabilities and their families, will end operations following her family's move to Missouri.

Individuals with disabilities were provided with work opportunities through the spice shop. Currently, the spice shop is open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sundays. A closing date for the shop has not yet been announced.

"The plan is for the shop to relocate to Missouri," she said.

Christiansen recently moved to Missouri with her family. She and her husband are in the process of purchasing a building and hope to open the spice shop near their new home this October.

"The move is allowing us to be able to focus on the business more and to grow it. It is a very exciting time," she said.

Celebrate Differences will also follow the Christiansens to Missouri, she said, with the mission of the organization changing to focus more on employment in line with the spice shop.

Though the Oswego location will close, fans of the spice shop will be able to take advantage of the online store, www.pinchofhappiness.com, once the website reopens for deliveries and orders in October.

When asked why she and her family were leaving Illinois, Christiansen cited educational reasons for her children, one of whom was diagnosed with Down Syndrome as a infant, as well as the financial status of the state.

"The timing was right for our family," Christiansen said. "Back in October, we had purchased a condo on the lake...We had every intention to place the condo in a rental program and move there someday.

"But after leaving a school board meeting in November, I looked at Jeff (Christiansen's husband), and said, 'Why are we using that as a rental? You can retire, the boys want to go, special education in this district is not what we want for Ryan, so let's go'."

Christiansen said that she and her family had a tour of a potential school over spring break, that her boys loved.

"When the district coordinator looked at Ryan and asked him what sport he wanted to try out for, possibly actually play on the team, not just be a manager, Kyle said, 'Ryan playing on the team would never happen at Oswego,' I knew we were going to move," she said.

Of her sons, Christiansen said, "I truly believe we are going to see them thrive. We are excited to see what the future holds for them."

As for what she'll miss about Oswego? Christiansen said she misses her neighbors and friends, and the community.

"The new owners of my house will have the best neighbors ever," she said. "The sense of community is something I love not only about my neighborhood, but about Oswego."

She thanked the community who worked at, and supported the spice shop and Celebrate Differences.

"I can never thank them enough," Christiansen said, adding, "Many became friends, they made it very hard to leave...I will also miss the many volunteers who helped make all of our programs successful. I never would have been able to do anything without them.

"I will miss all the young adults I worked with. They are, and always will be amazing. We laughed, we cried, and we had a great time."

Christiansen also praised the work of Oswego School District 308 Lead Athletic Director Darren Howard, who she called "a great example of a coach, and a leader to the athletes.

"I have so much respect for him. He is honest, has integrity, and he always gives credit of success to the players, parents and coaches."

As she and her family settle into their new home, and prepare the new incarnations of A Pinch of Happiness and Celebrate Differences, Christiansen expressed some hopes for the future of the Oswego community.

"I hope businesses will see what we did and how successful the adults were in the workplace," she said. "I would hope that more businesses follow our lead, and do more to hire these individuals. I always say that if I helped just one family, everything I did was worth it. Well, I not only helped one family, I helped a community."