Copyright The Street
If the average human life expectancy is around 72 years, having a business that goes well beyond that age is a remarkable achievement. Imagine everything that has changed over the decades of that business operation. Owners, managers, workers, the concept, the technology — everything must have gone through many adjustments to survive. When a retailer survives the Great Depression, World War II, and Covid pandemic, customers trust it is invincible. The store becomes an institution, an inseparable part of the community. Moreover, when that business is actually a clothing retailer that has dressed generations and generations, it seems almost impossible to imagine it will disappear. Long-time customers, especially those who have grown up around such a resilient retailer, end up surprised, disappointed, and sad when they realize everything must come to an end. That is the story of Stephenson Cree, a Riverside retail dynasty. Stephenson Cree clothing retailer closes for good after 92 years in business The last store of Stephenson Cree, a specialty boutique located in the Brockton Arcade (Riverside, California), is closing permanently after 92 years of family operation. Since the Great Depression, four generations of two families — Cree and Stephenson — have operated various clothing stores in Riverside. There were boutiques for women, men, and children, writes David Allen for The Press-Enterprise. In 1993, Stephenson and Cree merged to become Stephenson Cree. The last outpost, dubbed Stephenson Cree for Beautiful Clothes and Accessories, was selling mostly outfits and dresses for older women. A long time ago, several Cree stores could dress a woman throughout her life. Cree’s Merry-Go-Round sold clothes for children, then there was Peggy Cree’s for preteens and teens, and Cree’s for young women. In a post on Facebook on Oct. 14, Stephenson Cree announced the closure and 30% off closing sale. “Store closing, 30% off! All regular priced merchandise. Dresses, pants, tops, jackets, jewelry, accessories, gifts. EVERYTHING MUST GO,” reads the notice. Currently, not many items are left in the store, as the owner, Corol Cree, stopped ordering new stock and launched the going-out-of-business sale in the first half of October. Among hangers, furniture, and display racks are Christmas decorations and rare items brought from the store basement, such as compact discs, a sewing machine, and more, reports The Press-Enterprise. Why is Stephenson Cree closing after all this time? Times have changed significantly since the first store of the Cree dynasty opened in 1933 in the First National Bank building. Then, it was marketed with an ad in the Riverside Enterprise that stated: “New Fall Dresses, priced from $1.95 to $10.95, sizes 14 to 46.” There are few print ads these days. But that’s far from the only shift. What about consumer preferences and behaviors? What about the economy? “Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events,” said Diana Vreeland, a former editor of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Imagine how fashion trends and styles have evolved since 1933. The way we shop for clothes has also changed. More people now choose to make purchases online, from the comfort of their homes. “The younger generation is less interested in service, more interested in pricing,” Cree told The Press-Enterprise. The pandemic had a serious impact on all retailers. After the lockdowns, women started dyeing their hair less and realized “they had their closets full of clothes already,” Cree said. The last few years have been challenging for every retailer around the world. The challenges began even before the pandemic, with the rise of online retailers. E-commerce businesses forced many popular brick-and-mortar locations to shut their doors for good or switch to online sales. Those that survived are weakened and dealing with a new set of challenges, including higher labor costs, tariff pressures, inflation, and changes in customer behavior. The owner, Cree, didn’t blame the closure on the economy. Instead, she decided to close and retire, and no one else could continue the family business. “I’m sorry it ends with me,” Cree told the outlet. “There are no more Crees.” Popular clothing retailers and brands closures in 2025 This year alone, some large and very popular fashion and lifestyle brands closed their doors for good, including: Liberated Brands: The name behind brands like Billabong, Roxy, and Volcom filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February this year and confirmed the closure of its stores. Joann Inc.: The craft and fabrics retailer confirmed the closure of all 800 of its retail stores and the liquidation of its assets in going-out-of-business sales. Torrid: The struggling plus-size clothing chain also closed 180 stores as part of a strategic shift toward online sales. FatFace: A popular British fashion and lifestyle retailer announced the closure of all 23 of its U.S. stores in 2025 as it shifts to an online-only model amid rising costs and a challenging retail climate. While many famous retailers have closed their doors permanently this year, it is even more disappointing for consumers when century-old retailers say goodbye. Not many managed to survive as long as Stephenson Cree did. Retailers over 100 years old include: Macy’s: Founded 1858 (New York, NY) Bloomingdale’s: Founded 1861 (New York, NY) JCPenney: Founded 1902 (Kemmerer, WY) Neiman Marcus: Founded 1907 (Dallas, TX) Boscov’s: Founded 1914 (Reading, PA) “End of an institution”: Customers saddened by Stephenson Cree closure The owner is now 69 and her mobility has been limited, so Cree says it’s time for her to “let it go.” “Preparing for this shutdown has been very bittersweet,” Cree wrote in an emotional goodbye post on Facebook. “No more Holiday Open Houses where Debbie and I prepared enough food to last a week! No more long coffee breaks where I got to chat with Sally and Carol or Alice first thing in the morning. I’ll miss our regulars, those that came in weekly and those who came once or twice a year. So many stopped for a chat, and would say they were here for their ‘retail therapy.’” The store will probably remain open three days per week until around Thanksgiving. One of its loyal customers, Louise Moore, commented: “This is just an institution. I hate to see it go. They had beautiful clothes. The service is always excellent.” Another customer, Debbie Wurth-Newman DeVinna, shared on Facebook: “You have served this City for so many years. It won’t be the same, without you open. Your clothes were always exceptional and stylish, unlike what you could buy anywhere else. Enjoy your retirement, you deserve to. I’m sorry that you won’t be around anymore.” Deborah Fine, another store fan, said: “You will be missed. Beautiful clothes with style. Loved the windows. Enjoy your retirement.”
