A TIE to old-fashioned retailing in Wodonga has been lost with the death of menswear store owner Clarrie Ewart.
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Alongside older brother Jeff, Mr Ewart formed half of Ewart Brothers which was renowned for men's clothing in High Street for decades.
The pair began trading in 1954 at the southern end of the street before moving to a shop next to the Wodonga Pharmacy where they continued until 1998.
Their neighbour for more than 40 years, Jim Begley, first bought clothes from them as a teenage apprentice working in a butchery across the road from their shop.
"They were very funny blokes and always would go on with a lot of skullduggery, as in jokes," Mr Begley said.
"Both of them could tell jokes until you couldn't laugh any more."
The brothers united after having worked in separate menswear businesses following schooling at St Augustine's in Wodonga.
Clarrie was at Abikhairs in Albury and Jeff had his own store at Strathmerton after starting at Cann's in Albury.
Their second site became known as the 'long shop' as it extended from High Street and through to the Coles supermarket car park.
Over time they sold accessories ranging from bowler hats to braces.
"A suit, a belt, a joke, a fishy story or a cuppa from the billy which was always on the boil, all could be found at Ewart Brothers - if only all the fish we talked about in the shop had been caught," Clarrie said in 1999 at his brother's funeral.
The store was passed in at auction for $500,000 in 1995 before Coles extended over it with the pet food aisle covering ground once graced with shirts and trousers.
In addition to working together, the brothers made their homes near each other in Castle Creek Road in southern Wodonga.
They married sisters from Cobram with Kath wed to Clarrie and Monica the spouse of Jeff.
Clarrie and Kath had four children.
Mr Begley recalled fishing trips and cracker nights with Clarrie that were filled with funny moments.
"He was a very jovial, honest friend," Mr Begley said.
"He was a good friend to myself and my family and my extended family."
Mr Ewart died at the age of 92 on May 20.
His wife predeceased him in 2012 and he is survived by children Tony, Kerryn, Annie and Maggie and seven grandchildren.
