Bruce Benjamin props open the door to The Fashion Shop on Feb. 15, 1999 in Greenwood.
Daily Journal Archive Photo
News from around Johnson County as reported on Feb. 16 in the pages of the Daily Journal and the Franklin Evening Star from the last 111 years.
On this day in 1999, the main story on the front page of the Daily Journal was about the closure of a Greenwood landmark: The Fashion Shop.
Changes in the retail clothing market had forced owners of The Fashion Shop to sell off its merchandise as the company prepared to close its only remaining Central Indiana store.
At one time, the company owned five stores in Central Indiana, one in Bloomington and one in Columbus. Two other stores, in New Albany and Clarksville, were expected to remain open.
The Greenwood store, which was located in the Wilgro Center at Smith Valley Road and U.S. 31, opened around 1979.
“Business has really changed over the past few years,” said Brage Benjamin, who had co-owned the stores with his brother Bruce for 22 years. Their 92-year-old grandfather had started the family’s clothing business.
“It was a fantastic location throughout the 1980s,” he said. “We were a destination.”
But by 1999, he said, “you could take a shotgun out here and swing it around and not hit anybody.”
At least one customer was sad to see the store leave Greenwood. Roselind Chaney of Greenwood said she bought one of her favorite dresses at the store.
“I’ve been familiar with the store all my life,” Chaney said. “I remember my mother used to shop at the store in Columbus.
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Other memorable Johnson County stories from this day
1994
A Johnson County woman was charged with child neglect for allegedly leaving her 11-month-old baby to die inside a burning Prince’s Lakes home.
1967
High winds caused damage throughout Johnson County. Semi-trucks were blown over, trees were uprooted and barns partially collapsed. No tornadoes were reported, however.
1950
The Indiana State Highway Commission was opening bids for an extension of State Highway No. 31 between Edinburg (later Edinburgh) and Amity. State Highway 31 later became U.S. 31.
