Allen Menswear has shut after 109 years
ALLEN MENSWEAR on Bray’s Main Street closed down last weekend, after trading in the town for over a century.
Tom Allen and his wife Ina were the third generation of Allens to run the shop. They decided that this was the year to retire.
They expected to stay open for quite a while after their closing down sale started recently, but the stock sold out in 24 hours.
After announcing the decision to close, there was an outpouring of good wishes from the community, including former members of staff and loyal customers, as well as their fellow traders.
Ina said that they were in shock that the closing down sale came to an end so quickly. They also made a big effort to ensure that vouchers were honoured before they shut up shop for the last time.
Ina said that the decision to close was based on a number of factors. ‘ Tom’s health had deteriorated and I’m not getting any younger. There’s a limit, and we decided this year not to buy in for Christmas.’ A downturn in trade in recent years also contributed to their decision, with online sales and Dundrum shopping centre increasing in popularity.
She said that some of the responsibilities she still had included being called out occasionally at night to respond to the alarm.
‘People have been very good in wishing us well,’ said Ina. She said that they had a dinner earlier this year in Ocean and invited current and past members of staff.
Ina said that all of their employees over the year have been excellent, many of them returning on occasion to give a hand here and there if need- ed, and all of them staying in regular contact.
The most recent team included Pat Keenan, who had been at Allen’s for 23 years, and Raymond McGuire, there just 18 months but very well liked by all of the customers.
Tom’s father Willie had the shop before him, and, before him, it was owned by Willie’s uncle Simon. Willie had come out to Bray at a very young age to live with his uncle and two aunts following the death of his mother.
Tom and Ina’s own children have moved on to other things and supported their parents’ decision to draw the curtains on that part of their lives.
‘We lived over the shop when we were first married,’ said Ina, who has many happy memories linked to the clothing shop. ‘I cleaned floors and did windows.’ She and her husband now look forward to a happy retirement. Ina urged anyone wishing to shop in Bray for clothing to visit Tansey’s on Quinsboro Road where they will be very well looked after.