It will be the end of an era for the Nowra CBD on June 30, when Stanley Johns Menswear closes its doors for the last time.
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Now in its 55th year, Stanley Johns as it is widely known throughout the Shoalhaven, was founded in Junction Street in November 1964 by Stanley Harvey.
The business has been responsible for dressing multiple generations of Shoalhaven residents.
In fact, there would not be too many locals in that 30-50 age bracket and older, of course, who haven't bought or hired a suit or formal wear from Stanley Johns at one time or another.
Current owner David Harrison has been part of the business for the past 26 years, starting as an 18-year-old fresh out of high school.
Fourteen years ago he purchased the business from another longtime employee Graeme Tyrell who had bought the business from Mr Harvey, when he retired around 20 years ago.
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Mr Harrison admitted it would be a sad day when he walks out of the door for the final time.
"I've known nothing else, this is all I've done since school," he said.
"It's just time for a change."
Mr Harrison got into the clothing industry "quite by chance."
"My mum was a barber and was cutting Graeme's hair one day and he said they were looking for someone new at the shop to train up," he said.
"I didn't have a job at the time and mum said I should go and see them, and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I never thought all these years later I would still be here or ever own the business."
But his connections goes back even further.
"Like most young guys in the town I got my suits for my year 10 and year 12 formals here. Over the years we've had plenty of well-known names on our books," he said.
"For many of us over the years it was the only menswear shop in town.
"And we have dressed generations of different families.
"Some of the older customers even call me Stanley. I get that quite a lot and just roll with it."
At one stage Stanley also had a store at Stocklands but has always maintained this presence in Junction Street.
He said entering the clothing industry was a big learning curve.
"I had lots to learn," he admitted.
"Things like sizing, the differences in European sizings, but Stanley was a great teacher and was willing to pass on his knowledge and experience.
"Just a superb person and was a business pioneer when he opened a formal hire section."
After a couple of years Mr Harrison said he was able to virtually size people by eye.
"I'm that used to it now when someone walks in, you can pick what size they are straight away," he said.
When someone walks in, you can pick what size they are straight away. I suppose that's just years of working in the industry. Experience.
- Stanley Johns Menswear owner David Harrison
"I suppose that's just years of working in the industry. Experience.
"There was never any formal training. Stanley was old school and I suppose I am too from that point of view. When I train someone I have to remember that.
"I suppose that's why I'm pretty laid back."
He's heard all the jokes about 'measuring your inside leg', especially when he was younger and a keen local cricketer.
"Yep we get those [jokes], even today, but not as often. It still happens and is funny." he said.
"I copped a bit on the field, but it was all friendly banter and water off a duck's back.
"I used to joke when we sold someone a shirt that we offered and inside leg for free.
"But times have changed and they have changed in the industry. I now measure the outside leg."
Fashion is a fickle industry and trends can disappear as soon as they appear and over the years Mr Harrsion has seen plenty.
"I still believe you can't beat a man dressed in a nice suit, a collar and tie," he said.
"It looks smart and when I first started that's what all local businessmen wore.
"But times have changed - society is a bit more casual now. A lot of businessmen are more comfortable in open neck shirts, they have gone away from dress pants into chinos which we never sold 10 years ago, it was only ever dress pants or jeans.
"I've seen a few shockers over the years, thankfully the fluro suits didn't really take off - they were hideous, you still see a few of them around and mind you I still have a couple out the back.
Yes, we get jokes about measuring your inside leg even today, but not as often. It still happens and is funny.
- Stanley Johns Menswear owner David Harrison
"We've gone through the big wide ties that were bright colours, which are now slimmer, the shirts and suits are better fitting, more tailored now.
"I can also remember having Warner Bros and Disney clothing for hire, shirts and vests with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daffy Duck etc.
"Our shopping habits have changed. People still buy suits or formal wear for weddings, races etc but they are more happy to be casual nowadays."
He said he still sees a future in the "rag trade".
"It will still be there and there will always been a need for formal wear," he said.
"I see a future in it and will be staying in the industry one way or another."
As for funny happenings, there's been a few - in fact one just recently, when a "guy came in looking for a Nowra High School tie from the 1970s".
"I don't know why he would think we would have a tie from the 1970s," he joked.
"He said he bought one here as a kid and thought we might still have some.
"50 years on?"
Or the time when a groom and his bridal party turned up one Saturday morning inquiring about suits.
"The boys had obviously had a big night, they reeked of alcohol and were not well at all," Mr Harrison laughed.
"They said they were after suits for a wedding."
No problems, when's the wedding he inquired?
I've seen a few shockers over the years, thankfully the fluro suits didn't really take off - they were hideous.
- Stanley Johns Menswear owner David Harrison
"Oh this arvo was the reply"
"We quickly came up with a masterful plan and got it done.
"They couldn't be fussy at that late stage but we got them dressed and they looked pretty good.
"I assume the wedding went ahead - they returned the suits.
"Stan always had a favourite story that he had hired a suit to a guy and he died in it, so they buried him in it as well."
Mr Harrison has also had the odd occasion when he has had to "gently" break it to his "fashion aficionado" customer that what they were planning didn't look good.
"You have to learn to be diplomatic," he admitted and "break it to them that it probably doesn't go together.
"Usually you get the wife or girlfriend on side and let her deal with it. They often have better powers of persuasion than us. We've witnessed a couple of arguments in the store - I just let them go."
And yes, over the years he's heard the famous Are You Being Served television show line "are you free?" many times.
"It will be sad to see it all end. I want to thank our many loyal local customers from over the years, the many generations of families who have entrusted us to dress them," he said.
"We will be having a big sale with some great discounts as a way of saying thanks and goodbye."