Regina is bidding a poignant farewell to a true institution. Bregg Cleaners & Tailors, a beloved fixture at the intersection of Albert Street and Victoria Avenue, has closed its doors permanently, marking a significant Regina business closure after an astonishing nine decades of service. Generations of locals had come to rely on the quaint white storefront with its classic red signs for everything from dry cleaning to wedding dress preservation, tailoring, and even fur storage. Its final day of receiving orders was Monday, leaving a noticeable void in the city’s downtown core.
Chris Thorsteinson, the manager, shared that his father acquired the property in 1988, but records trace the establishment’s origins back to the 1930s. This incredible longevity makes Bregg Cleaners very likely the oldest continuously operated dry cleaner in all of Saskatchewan. It wasn’t just a business; for many, it was a piece of Regina’s fabric.
However, the landscape for such businesses has shifted dramatically, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I mean, there used to be well over 20 cleaners in Regina when I started working here and now I think we’re down to four or five, so I think that says it all,” Thorsteinson lamented. He pointed to a clear trend: people simply aren’t investing in clothing care with the same frequency or dedication as in bygone eras.
More Than Just Dry Cleaning: The Heart of a Regina Business Closure
Thorsteinson himself began working behind the counter at a tender 11 years old, alongside his grandparents. He cherishes vivid recollections of his grandmother preparing lunch right there in the shop. “It was kind of like another sense of community having the family there too. You’d come to work and grandma would be making lunch and then we’d sit down and have lunch and I enjoyed it,” he reminisced. This familial warmth extended to customers, making the Regina business closure feel even more personal to many.
When asked about the secret to maintaining a loyal customer base for so many generations, Thorsteinson’s reply was disarmingly humble. “I think it was just our quality of work. We tried to put out a good product for a decent price. We always tried to get everything done on time, and it wasn’t really any rocket science, I don’t think,” he stated. “It was just hard work and treating people properly.” He will deeply miss the myriad interactions with customers and the shared laughter with colleagues. The impact of this Regina business closure resonates deeply within the community, highlighting broader trends facing small, long-standing enterprises across the nation. For a deeper understanding of the current small business landscape, resources are available.
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