Thanks for the update GG. Inevitable I suppose but really sad news all the same. Shame, shame shame.

Staceyboy

But is there anything left worth buying? In my experience that has been the case for some years.

It is a sad bit of news. One things for sure, those old geezers won't be running any customer care courses in their retirement.

Not sure if it's common knowledge on here, so excuse me for asking if it is. What are JSs plans after the shop closes? I assume he's not going to offer an on-line only service if he's off loading all his stock?

Is he going to stay in the game in some form or other?

Our Mate Colin popped in there just the other day and we chatted a little beforehand. The only pointers I gave him were just to say Hello and to ask if it's OK if you just look around if you're not really in there to buy.

The result?

They loved him & he spent ages chatting to the guys.

Old school shops need old school manners to really make them work for you as an experience.

Maybe?

My post above gives a somewhat unbalanced view of the shop. In some regard they deserve a medal for soldiering on these past few years. Russell is correct in equating the contraction of the essential stock with what was happening to the clothing in the Motherland over that time, but one would have hoped that this would have led to a burst of activity in trying to pick up the slack armed with Mr. Simons' immense knowledge and impeccable taste. Sadly in my experience this was not really the case: I know as we all get older the impetus to move forward recedes somewhat.

In any case the shop itself hasn't been the main story for some time. The story is John himself, Kenny and Jeff and the cadre of devotees who have made it a special venue. While the Russell Street premises will go the cast of characters will move to a different stage and hopefully the change of scenery will inspire more great clothes, anecdotes etc.

It has to be said that it was once a hell of a place and in my teenage years and early twenties I was practically clothed from head to foot there. It's a vital link in all this for anyone in the UK vaguely interested in Ivy. Things changed, however and it became harder and harder to go there. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling that the sadness is not in the closure itself but in the last few years which must have been difficult for all involved.

I wish JS and all his associates well for the future and I'm sure that future will at least be interesting.

Last edited by Natural Sole Brother (2009-10-19 06:53:35)

I’m getting a bit misty eyed with all this. When the time inevitably comes it may be nice (for those of us who are able) to meet up in Covent Garden for a bite to eat, a chat and a bit of a reminisce. At risk of over romanticizing JS and his significance in our world I do feel that the closure of the shop should be appropriately marked. I’d walk across broken glass to say goodbye to JS and Ken on the last day of the shop. Wearing a pair of vintage Florsheim Imperials naturally.

Staceyboy

.....and me

Should go there while I still can.