A well known 94-year-old store in Preston is in the midst of expanding its line of men's wear and women's clothing into Galt.
Gadsbys Clothing Co & BRAE, which currently has a retail store on King Street East, will be opening up shop at 18 Main St next month.
A soft launch is tentatively planned for Sept. 23 with a grand opening celebration scheduled in April of 2024.
The Galt location will now be the store's home base, says co-owner Brandon Gadsby.
“We've essentially outgrown our Preston location as our flagship,” Gadsby said.
“We’re very excited for this expansion into Galt as we've already begun building long lasting relationships with the community, the fantastic BIA team and fellow retailers. We look forward to continuing to connect and grow in Galt.”
The store first opened in 1929 as Sid Somer’s. Years later Sid Somer’s son, Michael, obtained ownership from his father and carried on the business into the late 1900s.
It was when Michael Somer took over that the Gadsby’s started to get involved as Brandon’s uncle managed the store for several years.
It didn't take Brandon long to jump on board, as he first started working at the store at the age of 16.
“In 2009, Michael Somer retired and handed the family business over to my uncle Paul and his wife Gail,” Gadsby said.
“I then continued on under the new ownership of my family name ‘Gadsby's Clothing.’”
Then, last year in February, Brandon and his wife Larissa acquired the business that at the time had storefronts in Cambridge and Stratford. Larissa believed so much in the business that she left her job as a pediatric nurse practitioner to help run it full time.
Since then, they’ve opened a third store, expanded to offering women’s clothing and are now planning for their newest location in Galt.
“I would be considered a fourth generation, second family, owner of the longtime men's wear company,” Gadsby said.
“Since we took over, we opened a third location in Dundas last October and introduced ‘BRAE by Gadsbys’ as our women’s collection for the fashionable, casual and working professional.”
Despite the Galt location being well on its way towards completion, Gadsby says he has no immediate plans to make changes at the Preston store.
“With our history in Preston, I don't intend to make any quick moves there as it has been 94 years as men's wear,” he said.
“I would love to experience a 100 year anniversary there if we're continually supported by our longtime clientele.”
For more information on Gadsbys Clothing Co & BRAE visit gadsbys.ca.