5-generation dress shop Carlisle's Bridal of Pittsburgh set to close its doors
There won’t be a happily-ever-after for this wedding business.
After 133 years, Carlisle’s Bridal of Pittsburgh, the oldest bridal shop in the U.S. according to store owner Jan Winner, will close Feb. 28.
Winner, the great-great-granddaughter of the founder Sophia Carlisle, said there are many reasons for the end of the iconic dress boutique.
Winner has had to operate by appointment only because of Gov. Tom Wolf’s covid-19 orders limiting the number of people indoors.
Winner also said she lost revenue from prom and homecoming dresses she bought but didn’t sell because most special occasions were canceled because of the pandemic.
She was also going to have to move from the Ross plaza where the shop is currently located because the area is about to be renovated.
Carlisle opened the business in 1888 on Pittsburgh North’s Side, where it was for more than 100 years. The store moved to the Strip District before settling in Ross 10 years ago.
“This is really sad,” said Shaler native Lisa Hyland, who sat with her mother, Donna Bechtold, in the store to experience wedding dress shopping with her granddaughter and Hyland’s daughter, Jess Hyland, on Thursday. “So many members of my family bought dresses from Carlisle.”
It is sad, her daughter agreed. She said “Yes to the Dress.”
“This is my first time here,” said Jess Hyland, who is getting married in August. “I love this dress.”
Being able to assist a bride with the “gown of her dreams” is the most fulfilling part of the business, Winner said. So many generations have tried on dresses for that most important day of their lives.
Winner said on Wednesday she received 48 voicemails and more than 100 emails. She said weekends are almost completely booked.
She’s selling dresses for half off.
Winner is committed to fulfilling every order. Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother would want that. She said every member of her family worked for the company in one way or another.
Winner isn’t sure what she might do next.
“I can’t think about saying good-bye to this business right now,” she said. “I am concentrating on making sure every customer is taken care of. You hear about other bridal shops closing and leaving customers hanging, but I won’t do that.
“The Carlisle name is too important to me and every bride and everyone who has worked here is part of the Carlisle family.”
While she was in the middle of a dress fitting with a potential bride, a former employee came in just to give her a hug.
“It hurts,” Winner said. “I was especially sad when I had to call my customers and tell them.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people and a weekly column about things to do in Pittsburgh. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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