Peterborough Formal Wear Store T-Elle Boutique Closing Its Doors After 37 Years
/Local business owner Lien Vu is closing her shop T-Elle Boutique on March 31 after 37 years in business and hundreds of special-occasion outfits sold.
Lien Vu (pictured) relocated her store to 131 Charlotte St. from her previously location at 351. George St. N. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Vu graduated from Fleming College with a degree in business in the 1980s and found herself wondering where she would start her career.
“When I graduated I must have applied to 100 jobs, nothing,” said Vu. “I took the $5,000 I had and started this.”
She put $2,500 to get the store ready with a fresh coat of paint, small renovations and another $2,500 to buy merchandise.
She says she wanted T-Elle to be customers’ go-to shop when they needed a fancy outfit to wear.
“I’m not normal,” said Vu with a laugh. “When customers come in, I want them to stand out. I want them to go to their party and heads to turn.”
Vu says the formal wear started to sell very quickly and she was soon able to bring in more merchandise including casual wear.
“Things started moving and I realized ‘hey, this is what I like to do’ and I started bringing more stuff in,” Vu said gesturing to the colourful dresses and outfits around her. “After a while, we were able to bring in more casual stuff but my casual is not casual.”
Vu looking at photos from her shops past. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
