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17 | Friday, August 21, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com JUNO AWARDWINNING THE BROS. LANDRET 6-TIME GRAMMY WINNER MITCH FROHMAN GUITAR PRODIGY QUINN SULLIVAN MULTI-AWARD WINNER BRIA SKONBERG Maralee Larsen (left) and Liz Prescott (right) are pictured with original store owner and Larsen's mother, Barb Stone, at Barbette II during the store's 55th anniversary celebrations two years ago. The women's clothing store closed for good this summer. | Oakville Beaver file photo Downtown's Barbette II closes after 57 years THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT THE 2015 TD DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL! OUR THANKS TO ACURA OF OAKVILLE by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Barbette II has gone through a number of transformations over the years. From its early beginnings in 1958, as a maternity-wear store, to the upscale casual-wear boutique it became, the shop at 349 Lakeshore Rd. E. was constantly evolving. Now, after 57 years, the owners of Barbette II have called it quits. The boutique, a fixture in downtown Oakville, closed its doors for the final time last month. Reflecting on the business, which was ingrained in their lives for so many years, its owners, Maralee Larsen and Elizabeth Prescott, said it was simply time for a new chapter in their lives. "After so many years, 57 years, there's only so many changes you can make," said Prescott. "We're ready to do something different in our lives, explore new ventures." The tough retail landscape was also a factor in their decision to close up shop. With online Internet shopping becoming so rampant, competition from big-box stores and the pace at which change is taking place, Prescott and Larsen said they had to decide whether they wanted to keep evolving. In the end, it was a tough decision to make to shut down Barbette II, but one they believe was the right call. "We're ending on a high note," Prescott said. The pair, along with past-owner Barb Stone, who is Larsen's mother, sat down with the Oakville Beaver Monday (Aug. 17) to share Barbette II's long history within the downtown core and its most memorable moments in the 57 years the store was open. Stone, who saw the most changes during her time as the store owner from 1958-2004, said the shop started off in a small Cape Cod-like home across the street from where it was located just prior to closing July 31. It moved once before settling into what was the original Birks jewelry store at Lakeshore Road and Allan Street. In its heyday, Stone said, people were lined up around the block with men guarding the doors. "It got so busy, police had to direct traffic," she said, adding how the basement of the shop turned into an open change room to service the large crowds. She said its success came from knowing what shoppers wanted and offering it, such as great quality products at reasonable prices with a level of service second-to-none. "We were always trying to keep up with all the change," she said. "We were one step ahead of what was trending not even knowing what the trend was." At one time, the store was also a lingerie shop and then a sportswear store. Stone said they were selling golf wear before it even became popular. The store also had notable customers like singer Anne Murray. When Larsen and Prescott took over the business in 2004, they learned the lay of the land from Stone and tried to evolve with the changing retail market while maintaining the level of personal service the business had provided and unique products. The pair worked on bringing collections from the U.S. that couldn't be found anywhere else. "We searched out and brought in new lines... we carried lines you couldn't buy in big-box stores," she said, noting numerous brands like see Shopkeepers on p.20 PREMIER DEALERSHIP OF THE TD DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL