Flying Carp Clothing Gallery closes its doors

Flying Carp Clothing Gallery, 745 Asbury Avenue, has been described by customers as “quirky.” After 33 years of bringing vibrant and fun clothing to the Downtown, they closed their doors for the final time on February 28. 

“My clothing is a bit artistic and quirky and fun and loose fitting. It was for people who liked to make a personal statement, not for people who wanted to look like everyone else,” said Nada Conway, owner. 

Nada started Flying Carp when she needed a change in life direction. She originally worked at what is now Stockton University as an art history professor and then an administrator.  

“I planned what I was going to do in my next life and it was either take another job or start a business. I was in my 40s. I took a little class at ACCC (Atlantic Cape Community College) on how to start a small business. As I took this class, it got serious. I started planning the business. It just evolved.”

The Flying Carp’s name came from Japanese culture. Boys’ Day is celebrated yearly in Japan on May 5. Nada chose to blend culture with the seashore. She even used to have a water fountain in the store with goldfish. 

 “(The Japanese) want to instill in the boys the virtue of swimming upstream against all odds like the carp.”

Originally, the Flying Carp’s focus was on gifts, not jewelry and clothing. 

“I didn’t have much clothing, like a little closet of clothing. I had a jewelry case because someone gave me a jewelry case. That opening night, I sold all jewelry and all clothing. That was a clue that it was a direction that I should emphasize,” said Nada. 

Eventually, the store aside from her became available and she turned her store into a walkthrough. One side was gifts, the other clothing. 

“I added to the clothing, I added to the jewelry, I added to the whole store. I moved out of my little store across from Stainton’s and into the block where I am now,” Nada said. 

She then moved a block north on Asbury.

“I was where Interiors by Joann is next door and then did a walkthrough into my present spot,” said Nada.  

She sold the gift shop in 2006. 

“When I sold the gift store, that was my first stage of retirement. Once you own a business, you think, how do you get rid of it? I didn’t know how I would wind it down. I went to somebody who advised me and he suggested that I suggest the idea to the women who work for me and one took me up on it [by buying the gift shop]. Then, I thought about selling the business at one point and put it on the market. That was several years ago. I had one person interested but she changed her mind, so I kept going. I thought I would have closed maybe after Sandy, that would have been a easy way,” Nada said. 

Hurricane Sandy brought in water and renovations. 

“The store got flooded, like a foot of water. The other side of the street was worse. They had three feet. The water came from the bay. I never experienced it before. I was trying to reach the guy who cleaned my carpets. I thought he could just go in and clean the carpets and just reopen. It was a project but I had a bunch of women and we did it. I mean, we painted. I got tile from Avalon. We got back up in like a couple of weeks,” said Nada. 

Now, it’s time. 

“I’ve really had some great customers. I’ve had a great time with the people I work with. It’s been a lot of fun,” said Nada. 

Though the Carp is closed, some of it still lives on through the Avenue.

“Stainton’s took most of my fixtures and hangers. The little shops in there are going to use my stuff and that pleases me. It’ll be a way of keeping it going,” said Nada. 

She knows that clothing businesses are going to have a tough time making it through the pandemic.

“I think probably persistence is the thing we need most in business. If you can hang onto it, it will take you into some interesting territory.”

Photos courtesy of Nada Conway.