By reporter Steven Smalley
In business since 1948 with the same owners for the last 30 years, Leroux Fine Apparel for Men and Women will bid us farewell ? at least in this form ? as Mike and Alexandra Smith head into retirement. They turn out the lights for the last time at the end of May.
?The lease is up, and I didn?t want to do this into my seventies,? declares Mike, a fixture in the Village for as long as most can remember. ?We are retiring and going to go fill up our bucket list.?
Although the property is leased, the business itself is wholly owned by the Smiths and is for sale.
?It has made a very good living for us,? confesses Alexandra, who most people call Alex. ?One could relocate it if they chose not to open it here in Magnolia. We are the last better men?s and women?s clothing store in King County in existence this long. We would like to see the business continue in some form.?
Many solid relationships have formed during their time, they say. The Smiths hesitate to refer to shoppers as customers; the bonds with them are so much closer.
?It?s hard to say ?customer? because most of them turn out to be good friends,? Mike explains, sitting in the comfort of an office at the rear of the store. ?We got to know them, they got to know us. It becomes an extended family situation.?
Fear not the end of the store is the end of the Smiths in the Village. As Magnolia residents, their intentions are to stick around and continue their involvement in the community.
?You might see us at the summer festival working a booth or helping out in some way,? says Alexandra. ?We will still be active in Magnolia in some capacity. It?s been wonderful to be part of the community. We?ve been very lucky and very fortunate.?
After all this time, one might assume some emotion as they walk out the door for the last time.
?I?ll have feelings I don?t even know what they?re going to be yet. I haven?t quite wrapped my head around them,? Mike reveals.
?There is a life. We?d like to enjoy it before we can?t,? Alexandra says. ?We?ll miss everybody desperately.?
?The lease is up, and I didn?t want to do this into my seventies,? declares Mike, a fixture in the Village for as long as most can remember. ?We are retiring and going to go fill up our bucket list.?
Although the property is leased, the business itself is wholly owned by the Smiths and is for sale.
?It has made a very good living for us,? confesses Alexandra, who most people call Alex. ?One could relocate it if they chose not to open it here in Magnolia. We are the last better men?s and women?s clothing store in King County in existence this long. We would like to see the business continue in some form.?
Many solid relationships have formed during their time, they say. The Smiths hesitate to refer to shoppers as customers; the bonds with them are so much closer.
?It?s hard to say ?customer? because most of them turn out to be good friends,? Mike explains, sitting in the comfort of an office at the rear of the store. ?We got to know them, they got to know us. It becomes an extended family situation.?
Fear not the end of the store is the end of the Smiths in the Village. As Magnolia residents, their intentions are to stick around and continue their involvement in the community.
?You might see us at the summer festival working a booth or helping out in some way,? says Alexandra. ?We will still be active in Magnolia in some capacity. It?s been wonderful to be part of the community. We?ve been very lucky and very fortunate.?
After all this time, one might assume some emotion as they walk out the door for the last time.
?I?ll have feelings I don?t even know what they?re going to be yet. I haven?t quite wrapped my head around them,? Mike reveals.
?There is a life. We?d like to enjoy it before we can?t,? Alexandra says. ?We?ll miss everybody desperately.?