Once Thriving Tibetan Rug, Furniture Store Soon to Close

For 15 years, the Little Tibet rug and furniture store at 680 Main Street has always stood out in Middletown's North End — in a building with ornate, eye-catching features, full of grandiose statues, artifacts and high-quality Tibetan rugs and furniture.

Now owner Bhumba Drok-Sang is selling off his remaining items and closing up shop.

“I’ve been here 15 years and still have a lot of pieces left,” Drok-Sang said. “In a bad economy, closing the store completely is not easy. We’re close, with 90 percent of the store gone, but it’s still going to take a little while.”

When he opened Little Tibet, Drok-Sang created a small empire of sorts in the North End. His store, providing unique products, consistently did good business. Drok-Sang was able to open a Tibetan restaurant that was successful for a number of years until it began to lose money and was closed in 2006.

Little Tibet was a successful business that had a good relationship with the local community, and its owner was able to establish a life for himself in Middletown with his wife and children.

Starting in 2008, Drok-Sang’s dream began to pale. Little Tibet suffered as the economy's health declined and the store was marked for closure. Though it stayed open with the help of locals who rallied together for Drok-Sang and Little Tibet, the store’s business did not improve. Little Tibet was permanently marked for closure in late 2010.

The owner and his staff still make their way into the store every day and are slowly selling off the last of Little Tibet’s inventory, with rugs and furniture marked down as much as 90 percent to make the process easier.

The store looks as elegant as ever, with its impressive statues and goat-hair rugs. But the rooms that once displayed enchanting products like turquoise jewelry, prayer flags and centuries-old marriage beds are virtually bare.

The one constant at the store is Drok-Sang himself, whose attitude about Little Tibet’s departure is at once both frustrated and resigned.

Drok-Sang did not mince words or hide his sadness when he discussed the end of his business.  

“How do you think I feel? Imagine how you would feel if something you had been working for over 15 years failed. What can I do? It’s nobody fault, it’s the economy’s fault. I’m going to be upset and frustrated.”

Drok-Sang, who came to Middletown as a Tibetan political refugee, does not know what is next after Little Tibet sells off its remaining rugs and furniture. Drok-Sang and his family have come to appreciate all that Middletown has to offer and being embraced by its citizens.

“I love Middletown,” Drok-Sang said with obvious emotion. “The people here have been such a help to me.”    

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