Toronto’s Timeless Tailor, Angelo Rosso, Is Saying Farewell After 58 Years

It's a bittersweet moment in Toronto’s shopping history as Angelo Rosso Custom Tailors, a beloved institution on Eglinton West, prepares to close its doors after 58 years of service. The shop, founded in 1968 by tailor Angelo Rosso, has been a cornerstone of the neighbourhood, with Jim Tanner joining the business in 1973 and taking over in 1990 after Rosso’s passing.

Tanner, who is now 78, has been at the helm for 53 years, carrying on the tradition of custom men’s tailoring. However, the shop is closing due to Tanner’s retirement, marking the end of an era in Toronto’s fashion scene. The store has seen its fair share of challenges, including the impact of the Crosstown LRT construction, but managed to survive.

Over the years, the store has also weathered some major changes outside its doors. In a 2015 interview about the impact of Crosstown LRT construction on businesses along Eglinton, Tanner said there was “basically no foot traffic in the area” and wasn’t sure whether the shop would make it through the disruption. “Once it’s done, it’s certainly going to be a lovely street, but I don’t know if we will make it,” Tanner said.

There’s a nostalgic side to the closure, too. Angelo Rosso is more of an old-school, indie tailor shop that’s becoming harder to find in Toronto. It joins other longtime menswear institutions that have closed in recent years, including Korry’s Clothiers on the Danforth, which ended a 70-year run in 2022, and Brown’s Menswear on Avenue Rd., which shut its doors in 2018 after nearly 90 years.

A closing sale will begin this weekend and is expected to continue for about 10 weeks before Angelo Rosso Custom Tailors closes for good. You can visit the shop at 1064 Eglinton Ave W. If you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping by to say goodbye to this cherished local business.