RALEIGH, N.C. – One of the largest teacher supply stores on the east coast is closing its doors for good.

• Stone's Educational Superstore in Raleigh closes at 6 p.m. Friday.
• The Teacher-centric store has been around since 1946.
• The owner says online retailers are what's hurting local stores like her's.

Stone’s Education and Toys was the go-to store for Triangle teachers since 1946, but Friday is the last day for the store.

Owner, Carol Madison, says the decision to close was the result of a changing retail environment; teachers have turned to shopping online.

Madison says she hopes her store closing teaches local teachers an important lesson about supporting local stores in their community.

"When you choose to shop online, you're not supporting the local community,” says Madison. “Our store supported the local community. We supported all the schools, their fundraisers, their fall events, their festivals. Online doesn't do that."

The store will close at 6 p.m. Friday.