PORT ANGELES — It’s the end of an era for a Port Angeles landmark.
After nearly 97 years of selling dress apparel to a loyal customer base, The Toggery will close its doors for good at 4 p.m. today.
Owners Mary and Roy Gotham will gather with friends and employees at closing time to toast years of good memories at the downtown location.
“Lots of history,” Roy said.
The Gothams tried for almost two years to find a buyer for the business and its inventory. They announced March 20 that they were unable to find a buyer and would retire.
“We’re disappointed that it came to closing it,” Mary said.
“It’s been a great 25 years.”
Most of the inventory — dress pants, suits, polo shirts, ladies’ turtleneck sweaters, Pendleton blankets, shoes, ties and other items — had been sold by Tuesday.
Roy said he would donate the 17 remaining sports coats and more than 40 pairs of pants and shirts to service clubs and rummage sales.
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“They’ll all find good homes,” he said.
The Gothams plan to spend their retirement in Port Angeles and take the time to travel.
“We’re looking forward to having time to do the things we enjoy — hiking and biking — and spend time with the family,” Roy said.
“We’ve got one son that lives in San Francisco. Not a bad place to visit. Another one in Denver. We like the outdoors, so not a bad place to visit.”
The Toggery was opened in September 1914 on West Front Street in downtown Port Angeles by H.H. Van Brocklin. It moved to its current location at 105 E. First St. in 1965.
The Gothams, who had the store longer than any of it previous owners, took the reins in 1986.
“It’s been an amazing month,” Mary said.
“The customers have just been marvelous.”
Roy added: “It’s almost like family.”
“We have kids going through middle school, going to their dances, and you’re outfitting them with their dress pants and their vest and tie.
“Pretty soon, it’s the senior ball and their tuxedo. And they’re going away to college, and they needed a blazer.
“And they come back and they need that first suit for their job interview. Once in awhile, we have them come back, and we do the weddings,” Roy said.
“So there’s a lot of generations and families we’ve been able to service and help.”
“That’s the tough part,” Roy added. “That’s what we’re dealing with when we close the store.”
A steady stream of customers filed into The Toggery on Tuesday to say their goodbyes to the Gothams and to take advantage of the clearance sale of 60 percent off.
“They were nice people to deal with, and the material they had was nice,” said Rob Webb of Port Angeles, who started shopping at the The Toggery in about 1985.
The downtown storefront will not stay empty for long.
Sassy Kat Salon & Boutique owner Janee Lyster said she hoped to move her business by the end of May from 525 E. Eighth St. to the location being vacated by The Toggery.
Interior remodeling is set to begin Monday.
“I hope to add to the downtown and bring more business down there,” Lyster said.
“I’m hoping to get it going right away.”
Most of the former employees of The Toggery are going to retire or at least take the summer off, Mary said.
“Thanks for being customers over the years,” Roy told a shopper.
“We appreciate that.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.