Halloween weekend is expected to see the end of the Re:style punk and vintage clothing shop, a Hermosa icon for three decades and a fading remnant of the funky, scruffy vibe of the town’s yesteryear.
Eight months ago “Rodge” and Danielle Rodgers announced they would sell their business on upper Pier Avenue to travel back home more often to, respectively, South Wales and Nice, France.
The business did not sell, but the couple decided to make good their getaway just the same. As liquidation prices continued to clear the shelves, they said Halloween weekend would probably see the end of retail sales at Re:style. Another week will see the sale of display cases, racks and the like to other businesspeople, and then the key will turn in the door for the last time.
“I’m just crushed that they’re closing,” shopper Adell Shay said on Monday as she looked for a gift for her stepdaughter Sally. For decades Shay has received Christmas gifts purchased at the store by her husband Jay Stinnett.
“We’ve been coming here since they’ve been on Hermosa Avenue,” she said.
In the beginning Danielle co-owned Re:style with a friend. Then she and Rodge met, bought out the friend, and moved the store from the north side of upper Pier to the old Bijou Theatres building on Hermosa Avenue. In the ‘80s they moved the shop to its current location on the south side of upper Pier.
This week some customers shed tears as they shopped for perhaps the last time in a store that’s seen three generations of patrons, and often sees parents shopping alongside their teenage kids.
“There’s been a lot of compassion, a lot of support,” Danielle said.
Rodge leaned on the counter, and cradled a coffee cup with “Wales” on it, as he mused about finally pulling up stakes.
“It’s been a roller coaster, really. One minute I’m happy to be free – we haven’t had a holiday in years, or even weekends off. But on the other side I’ll really miss it. I’ll miss the people,” he said. “This has been our universe.”
A shopper named Gus, with graying temples and a skateboard, shook hands with the Rodgers and bid them adieu.
“Thanks for all the years,” he said.
Rodge returned to musing:
“It’s going to be a bit weird man, a bit weird.” ER
