Louis Boston to Close After 85 Years in Business

Photo by Bob O’Connor

After serving as the city’s go-to location for luxury clothing for nearly 90 years, Louis Boston will close its doors in South Boston this July.

“Business is on point at our current location with steady year-over-year growth, but after 25 years of extensive travel to Paris, London and New York five months a year in search of the world’s finest clothing, it is simply time to change direction and turn my attention to projects and passions outside the retail arena,” Debi Greenberg said in a statement to the Globe.

The retailer spent the majority of its years in the old Museum of Natural History, a historic circa-1863 building on Newbury Street, before moving to a brand-new, contemporary location on South Boston’s waterfront in 2010. Now, the famous Newbury Street building is the abode for high-end home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware.

Greenberg, who took over Louis in the ’90s, was told that the move from Back Bay to Southie was a bold venture, a strategy that might not be successful. “I don’t think it will be the same experience here,” Greenberg said before the move.

And yet, Louis still continued to introduce talked-about brands to the Boston fashion and luxury scene. Louis is a repeat Best of Boston winner, and Boston has covered several of their pieces in recent years including Alexandre Mattiussi’s jungle print skateboard, and Ostwald Helgason’s sporty silk-blend dress. Surely many loyal shoppers will be somber about its closing, but Louis Boston is, and will continue to be, a sentimental marker in the city.

Louis Boston will have its final annual sale in July before shutting its doors for good.