Sudbury boutique owner to retire after an 56 years downtown
After an incredible 56 years in business, a Sudbury boutique owner has decided to retire and close her shop.
Jan Browning will close the doors to her beloved women's clothing and accessory store on Tuesday.
"We did have two years of shutdown and it was not pleasant, it was hard to manoeuvre things and then there was the situation in getting stock and things like that and then the situation of not being open for your customers," said Browning.
She's moved a few times around the city, but her pleasant smile and fashion sense have become a constant women in Sudbury can rely on.
Her trademark flower sign has hung in its current spot on Durham Street for roughly 15 years.
While it's been a lot of hard work, she said it was also a lot of fun.
"Every year and every season, the fashions would change in the '60s and '70s," said Browning. "Styles would change right up until the shutdown and now people are starting to dress up again and think of pretty things to wear."
"I would have lots of fun buying things in Paris in those days from the runways -- Montreal was really hopping," she added.
Browning said one thing she was most proud of was seeing how quickly the city would adapt to changing trends, particularly at a time when there wasn't as much reliance on television.
But it's the camaraderie and the spirit of downtown she'll miss the most. She said she's leaving just when downtown is starting to see a resurgence.
"It won't be the way it was," Browning said.
"It'll be brand new, but it'll still be full of people, full of young people -- all kinds of interesting things going on."
"It's a great thing to celebrate 56 years in business. I'm also an entrepreneur and that's all I could hope for in my life. There's people to aspire to, there's people to look up to," said Kyle Marcus, of the Downtown Sudbury BIA.
Browning said it's been an incredible 56 years, a time she wouldn't trade for anything.
"I don't know if it feels like it's been more but it's been a very long, enjoyable ride," she said.
Browning plans to spend a lot of time focusing on family, her dog and her art. No word yet on what will be going into the space on Durham Street.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE | Experts voice privacy concerns over RCMP's use of 'intrusive' spyware
Privacy and civil liberties experts are sharing their concerns Tuesday with MPs studying the RCMP's yearslong use of spyware in major investigations, calling the previously undisclosed tools 'extremely intrusive' and criticizing the RCMP's belated disclosure of its use of these tools.

Ford throne speech says more can be done on health staffing but offers no new solutions
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says through his throne speech that more can be done to ease health system pressures, but is not yet offering up any new solutions.
Trump seeks to raise money off news of FBI search of his Florida home
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday tried to turn the news of an FBI search of his Florida estate to his benefit, citing the investigation in text messages and emails soliciting political donations from his supporters.
Tracking active wildfires around the world
On CTVNews.ca, a satellite map using real-time NASA data shows active wildfires burning around the world.
Twitter down for thousands of users
Twitter was down for thousands of users on Tuesday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.
Senegalese diplomat arrested by Quebec police owed former landlord more than $45,000
The detention and alleged beating by Quebec police of a Senegalese diplomat last week came as a bailiff was attempting to seize property at her residence to pay for a judgment against her.
opinion | Tom Mulcair: Why Pierre Poilievre's plan to work with provinces to reduce barriers is a good idea
The serious shortage of nurses and doctors has put the spotlight on a long overdue reform to the rules governing entrance requirements for foreign-trained professionals, says former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca.
Canadian frigates absent from NATO naval forces for first time since 2014
For the first time in eight years, Canadian warships are not involved in either of two NATO naval task forces charged with patrolling European waters and defending against Russian threats.
Sask. RCMP issue Amber Alert for 7-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy
An Amber Alert was issued Monday evening by Shaunavon RCMP in Saskatchewan for seven-year-old Luna Potts and eight-year-old Hunter Potts.