Owners: Page Litfin & Erin Vann, Sue Wheeler
By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
Sun Bern NC
Sun Bern NC is a recently opened business located at 1301 Country Club Rd next to Banx Watersports, offering Sun Bern NC branded apparel and accessories for life on the river.
“I debuted the business at The Great Trent River Raft Race in 2023 and continued to set-up shop at various pop-up markets throughout the year,” says owner Page Litfin. “By November of 2023, I knew I was ready to grow into a physical location. Everything from this point on seemed to come together serendipitously. The 1301 Country Club Rd storefront had always charmed me, even in its neglected state. When I first walked in, I saw all of the potential and its location on the river made it even more appealing. I pitched the concept to my friend Erin Vann, with whom I’d taught preschool at First Presbyterian. She had a background in retail and sprung into action to launch her children’s boutique ‘Le Petit Bisou.’ The space was already designated for two retail spaces and our target customers were similar enough that it all just made sense.”
The store is truly charming, and the décor is a nod to life on the river. Page—who grew up playing in the Patuxent River in Southern Maryland—wanted the store’s vibe to mimic being on a screen porch riverside. She says, “In keeping with the name and life in New Bern, the store offers swimwear for women, men, and children. I intentionally pulled in brands and styles that are practical for life here. In the off-season for swimwear, you’ll find athleisure apparel and other apparel for a laid-back lifestyle that many enjoy here. I realized a gap in the market for those of us who aren’t surfers or avid sportsmen/women, but we still need swimwear. We had a bathing suit shop near where I grew up in Maryland that offered a great variety of pieces you could mix and match and have tailored by the local seamstress. Tailoring swim is not uncommon, but it makes a difference when you can have pads sewn in or adjust straps to create a more comfortable fit. In opening Sun Bern NC, I wanted this to be part of what I could offer our customers. Mon Alterations has become our go-to for these services.”
Customers can shop Sun Bern NC Wednesday-Saturday from 10-3 and by appointment.
“Shopping by appointment allows customers to come in when the time is best for them and when they are in the mood to try on bathing suits,” says Page. “It’s not something everyone wants to do on the spur of the moment. We also offer sip-and-shop options where you can bring friends or a significant other to make it more fun and comfortable.”
Le Petit Bisou
Located within the same building as Sun Bern NC, Le Petit Bisou, LLC (“The Little Smoochie”) opened in March 2024. This light and bright space is beautifully decorated and full of high-quality treasures for children. “We pride ourselves in being New Bern’s only brick-and-mortar children’s boutique as we recognize this was a significant void for New Bern families and visitors alike,” says Co-owner Erin Vann. “When the opportunity presented itself to move into the space with Page, I quickly spun into action and with little convincing, my Mom, Sue Wheeler was on board too. This required her to step back from her 36-year career at the Women’s Center in New Bern, caring for mothers and expecting mothers. With Mom by my side as a 50/50 owner, we were off and running to Atlanta Apparel Mart. Le Petit Bisou reflects the growth New Bern has been seeing for several years now. When I moved home in 2016, I realized how many young families were choosing to put roots down here. My mom, who is a co-owner of the store, would attest to the struggle to find clothes for my brother and me when we were young. Whether it was a special occasion, holiday or just that seasonal shift and everything was outgrown, there were limited options in the immediate area. In addition to finding the outfit, we wanted to eliminate the stress of finding shoes by carrying a wide variety of play and dress shoes for the littles. LPB works tirelessly to offer our community everything from those timeless, heirloom-quality pieces to your everyday, go-get-dirty, play clothes. As a fourth-generation New Bernian, and mother of a 2-year-old boy, Mom and I have tailored our selection to practical apparel needs and more special pieces for the boys and girls.”
Erin attended Appalachian State, majoring in Apparel Design and Merchandising with a Minor in Marketing. However, her passion for the industry was sparked at a much younger age. “When I was around 8 years old, my next-door neighbor, Kate Crawford Fuqua—now the Vice President of Coach Leathergoods Design—taught me many things, like how to use a sewing machine and how to hand sew glass beads onto a project ‘we’ were working on. She is the reason that I got turned on to fashion and all the various forms that art can have. I was a sponge and learned so much from her during her summers home from NC State, and for that I will always be grateful! As a hometown girl, I felt every reason to apply these skills and this passion to LPB and it is why we continuously work to support and weave in opportunities for other young, creatives to have opportunities to showcase and sell their work at our shop.”