Move over, Harpers. It’s SCHAD ON SUSSEX
Fashion power couple open new boutique, plush tea room in the works
The Schads are expanding their empire on Sussex Drive once again. Andre Schad and his wife and business partner Chantal Biro Schad, owners of clothing boutique Schad and upscale footwear store Wolf & Zed, have quietly opened yet another hip shop and in a few months will add a swanky tea room to the mix.
The Schads are known for selling casual luxury brands to stylesavvy Ottawans and have been a fixture in the capital’s most tony fashion district for more than 18 years.
For their new venture, they have teamed up with restaurateurs Caroline Gosselin and Peter Boole of Eighteen and Sidedoor. The group opened the doors to Ottawa’s first M0851 store a week ago. The Montreal-based fashion house, which began in 1987, has a solid reputation for turning out collections that strike the right balance between charm and functionality.
All of its items (bags and women’s and men’s apparel and accessories) are designed and crafted in Montreal. The M0851 lines are currently found in select retail outlets in 35 countries.
“I would describe the store as classically elegant,” says Schad. “We carry beautiful handbags, outerwear, scarves and winter accessories. The fact that M0851 is all about keeping things local is very important to us.”
The boutique takes over the space formerly inhabited by the Terence Robert Gallery. The upcoming Moscow Tea Room, which hopes to open on Feb. 14, will feature premium organic coffee and teas and desserts during the day and small plate fare and more at night. It will have seating for 106 and will include a small patio in a cobblestone courtyard at the back. The four businesses are all located on the Sussex block between George and York streets.
“We are creating a really competitive block in conjunction with the NCC. The tea room will have an antique feel and will be an ideal place to sit and chill. It is going into our former Schad’s women’s space,” says Schad.