Another new business has blossomed on Second Avenue in Qualicum Beach. This one, Open Collar Men, caters to the well-dressed man.
“Guys like to look sharp too” even if, for their day jobs, they have to wear scruffy work clothes says owner Terrence (Terry) Doyle. “A nice look can help people feel good”, especially now as summer emerges, the lockdown eases and patios open up again.
Many people have been drawn to the store by its eye-catching, elegant storefront design. That’s no accident.
Terry spent the past 26 years as an interior architect in Vancouver, running his own company. The cost of doing business here is so much less than in Vancouver, says Terry. He did all the work for the menswear shop himself, except electrical installation.
“I wanted it to look like it might be kind of expensive but when people came in, they were pleasantly surprised by the prices.”
Terry is following in the footsteps of his father, and one of his sons. While this is his first venture into retail, Terry grew up around his dad’s menswear shop in Toronto.
Terry and his wife relocated from Vancouver to Qualicum Beach in the summer of 2018. Their impetus to move to Vancouver Island began about 10 years ago when their oldest son and his young family moved to Cumberland.
What drew the couple to Qualicum Beach was “the small town, village atmosphere. We’ve got something special here.”
“About a week after I moved here, I realized there was no menswear store at all,” says Terry. He’s having fun learning the ropes. “I’ve never dressed a mannequin before. Have you ever dressed a two-year-old? It’s like that.”
Terry wasn’t sure what kind of clothing to order so he decided to stock a bit for everyone. He says he is surprised to find that the clientele for Open Collar Men so far has been younger than expected.
The store offers a complete line of casual menswear including edgy shirts and shorts, snazzy socks and funky underwear. The shop also carries personal care items like brushes and razors, and bar accessories.
Terry says that lots of men are interested in cooking as much as cars, so he plans to bring in a wider range of items to cater to the man of diverse interests.
Open Collar Men follows a safety regimen during COVID-19 that includes limiting the number of people allowed in the shop at any one time, maintaining safe distances, customer hand sanitizing before touching products for sale, and disinfecting all touch points between every customer visit.
Open Collar Men is at 138 West Second Avenue, Qualicum Beach, BC. 250.594.9997.
