One of the longest standing businesses on Ottawa Street in Windsor is closing after 72 years.
Karen's 4or Kids first opened on Ottawa Street between Windemere and Lincoln Roads in 1947 and has served generations of Windsor families.
"It was very rewarding," said co-owner Arnold Blaine. "Both my brother and I started working here when we were kids. I started working at 11. Jack, probably when he was 12 or 13. So, there's a lot of faces that we've seen over the years. We waited on them as children, and then as teenagers, and then as young adults, and then as parents, and some of them now even as grandparents."
Blaine took over the store when his father passed away in 1973, and his brother Jack joined him full-time just five years later once he graduated from the University of Windsor.
Over the decades, he said a lot has changed in the footwear industry. Back then, most of the shoes sold in the store were made in Canada. Just a fraction of it is now.
Ottawa Street has changed too.
"Ottawa Street has changed dramatically over the last ten or 15 years," said Blaine. "It's become much more service-oriented. The street is pretty well full. There's hardly any vacancies whatsoever, but instead of retail, now it's medical, and hair salons, and lawyers."
Despite the mall, and the advent of online shopping, Blaine said his shop is as busy as ever.
He admitted retirement would bring some significant personal changes, including freedom he and his brother have not known during their years in retail.
"I would love to go to a Michigan game," Blaine admitted. "They're always in the fall on a Saturday which is our busy season."
A note on their Facebook page said Karen's 4or Kids is closed this week in preparation for one final retirement sale on July 29.
