By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter
Peggy’s of Milton started off as a family-run business, and that’s way it will go out, as owners Jan Price, and Joey Bennett prepare for their retirement. “My mom started it in 1968, and we were raised in it,” Bennett said.
The women’s clothing store grew to seven stores, and their Milton location at 184 Main is their last one to close. “We wheedled them down with a plan to retirement,” Bennett said. The store carries a selection of women’s clothes from dresses to active wear. The sisters have never worked together until now. “We wanted to spend a couple of years working together, which we have, and now we’ve made the decision,” she said.
Peggy’s has established itself as Milton landmark. “We’ve done it for fifty years. Standing on your feet for that long takes a toll, and it’s just time to move on and try something different. Neither Bennett, nor her sister Janet has had more than a week off since they were 16. “But even then, you don’t really have that time because you’re answering emails, and text messages,” she said. She added that Jan recently had a knee replacement.
The store’s resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic is a point of pride for Joey, and they couldn’t have done it without the hometown Milton support. “It makes you more proud of the customers who walk in the door, because they could choose to shop anywhere, but they come in here to make, which means the world to us.”
Bennett describes it as a store where families come to shop. “They’ll come in, and they’ll talk about their grandma, and they’ll talk about their, and then they’ll talk about their daughter shop,” she said of the customers. Or women will come who know each other, “and they might end up having a conversation for 45 minutes that has nothing to do with shopping, and end up enjoying each other.” It’s the type of place they’ve always wanted to build. “Many of them are friends,” she added about the customers.
“It’s ending on a very, very, good high, but it’s time,” Bennett said of the retirement. Peggy’s will remain open into July at 184 Main St. For more information visit their website
