Hats Off To Woman Opening New Store In Saint John
SAINT JOHN – A woman preparing to open a new hat store on King’s Square in Saint John is facing challenges linked to Covid-19.
Susie Alberts-Hines quit her job in February and began putting a plan together to start her business when the pandemic hit.
She said her opening date for Hats on the Square was pushed back as most of her suppliers are in Quebec and Ontario, where they are still grappling with containing the virus.
“Right now they are still in a code orange kind of status, working with minimal employees. It definitely had an effect that way,” Alberts-Hines said.
As she sets the store up, a lot of interested passersby have been coming in.
“They have been popping in. They have been very curious. They are seeing my mannequin heads in the window. I already have some specialty orders lined up,” Alberts-Hines said.
Alberts-Hines has always loved hats saying it became a tradition for her to buy one while on vacation.
“Anywhere I went to visit, any city, any state, I always [searched for] hat stores within the area.
Hats on the Square, located in the Admiral Beatty complex where Beatty & the Beastro used to be, will open its doors sometime during the week of July 6.
Hand sanitizer, gloves and masks will be available for shoppers as they enter the store.
Tamara Steele is a reporter with Country 94/97.3 The Wave, a Huddle content partner.