End of an era

Iconic women’s clothing retailer Susan J Fashions will be closing its doors permanently on August 30

SUSAN SHARPE, A 41-year veteran of the city’s retail community, has announced her retirement and subsequent closing of her retail store at 256 Oxford Street East. Referred to as The White House, the store housed Susan J Fashions and the Susan J Outlet.

According to a report in The London Free Press, the move to close shop was a coming together of many factors, including trends to more casual, inexpensive fashions and the impact of online shopping, however the coronavirus pandemic played a substantial role in the decision.

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“It is time to make more time for me,” she told the Free Press. “This is really about many things, but COVID has been the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Over her career, Sharp owned and operated seven retail locations, including the current location at Oxford and Richmond streets, two at Westmount Shopping Centre, one at White Oaks Mall, two in the former Galleria complex downtown and another in Tillsonburg. Five of the stores operated as Susan J, and two operated under the Mercedes Club banner, a casual clothing concept.