Brick & Mortar Living is feeling the love.
Since the local retailer announced it will be closing its doors on April 30 after seven years in business, it’s been inundated with support from community members. The window of its Sixth Street store is plastered with “love letters” from folks who have posted comments about shop online or emailed the store.
In June 2012, Jennifer Pistone and daughters Emma Nash and Julia Dewhurst opened Brick & Mortar in an 850-square-foot space in a heritage building on Begbie Street, moving to a larger space on Sixth Street in 2013. In October 2016, the shop relocated two doors down into its current location – a location it now needs to vacate as the property is being redeveloped.
Since its opening, Brick & Mortar has immersed itself in the local community through initiatives such as supporting New West Pride, doing shoe drives for homeless, and holding popup sales and events to support local artists and artisans.
Brick & Mortar is holding a farewell party on Friday, April 26 from 7 to 11 p.m. The event will includea DJ, food and drinks.
“It is a big party. That is just a goodbye, farewell, thank-you-for-your-loyalty party. We are involving, as we normally have in the past, many different local friends,” Pistone said. “It is going to be a real community event.”
While the shop will be closed that day so staff can prepare for the party, Brick & Mortar is open for business until it closes on April 30. Brick & Mortar had a record day of sales for its recent VIP sale, but the shop is still stocked with merchandise.
“We still have stuff,” Pistone said. “We still have replenishment happening. Because it (merchandise) is on consignment, these guys are wanting to try and get as much on the floor as possible; whatever doesn’t sell they will take back. That’s the nice part about doing consignment.”
Brick & Mortar is also finalizing plans to have pop-up trunk shows at the shop on April 27 and 28, featuring some of the designers it carries so customers to stock up on some of their favourite items before the store closes.
It remains to be seen whether New West has seen the last of Brick & Mortar Living.
“We have no definitive answer for anybody in terms of what the future holds. It’s just leaving it up to what is supposed to happen will happen, to fate,” Pistone said. “If fate shall have it, we will be back and we will be back stronger and better and more equipped with all kinds of knowledge we acquired over seven years.”
