Final sale for Saskatoon's first family of fashion
Kael Flynn is the scion of a Saskatoon fashion dynasty, but the 22-year-old is more concerned with perfecting his curveball than selling suits.
His father, Barry Flynn, owner of clothing store Ultimo Euromoda, died in December, about eight months after the death of Kael's grandfather, long-time clothing retailer Elwood Flynn. Ultimo is closing at the end of February, leaving Saskatoon without a Flynn-owned store for the first time since 1956.
"Love people. Not a huge fashion guy, to my father's dismay," Kael said during an interview at the store.
"He was very happy that I liked sports. He wished I dressed a little bit better than the sweat pants and hoodies that I usually rock, but he was happy nonetheless."
Barry, 67, died in December. Two months earlier, a seizure had put him in hospital where he learned he had Stage 4 lung cancer that spread to his brain. The family tried to find a buyer for the store, but storefront clothing retail is a tough business even if one has Barry's passion for fashion.
"His death happened so quickly that it's hard for me to comprehend that he's not coming back and his dream store will be gone," said Suzanne Flynn, Barry's wife.
"He loved what he did and he knew his clientele. Men usually don't like shopping. He could look at you and have you out the door in five minutes with exactly what you wanted. So he was very good at what he did."
Barry opened Ultimo Euromoda in 1989 after working with his parents, long-time clothing retailers Elwood and Joan Flynn, who ran eponymous stores for men's and women's fashions and the Town Cobbler shoe stores.
Kael, an aspiring professional baseball player, worked at Ultimo with his dad for the past several years, but he also sort of grew up there. He has fond memories of store staff babysitting him while Barry helped customers or hit the gym.
"He liked the tight clothes," said Kael, laughing while describing his dad's style.
"He loved hitting arms at the gym. So he'd go into the gym in the morning and hit arms and be wearing a size medium T-shirt and the guns would just be popping out all day."
The Flynn businesses found success with a personal touch lacking at fast-fashion stores and online shopping that dominate clothing retail, said Suzanne, who married Barry in 1989 after dating for several years.
"The personality behind the doors — the Barrys and Elwoods — people would just come in not to buy anything but just for the conversation," Suzanne said.
"It's an old-school way of shopping. They weren't into computers, technology. It was very important that they get on the phone with customers, tell them that something came in and bring them down shopping. That face-to-face contact meant everything to Barry and Elwood."
While Elwood Flynn Ltd. sold classic men's suits and business clothing, Barry's store focused on trendier styles for a younger demographic — think slim suits and designer T-shirts.
"Their clothes, everything that they bought, meant a lot," Suzanne said. "It was all handpicked and to let that stuff go was very difficult."
Elwood and Joan married in 1956, the same year they opened Elwood Flynn Ltd. The store moved several times, finding homes at the Bayside and the The Avenue Building in downtown Saskatoon. Joan, 88, died in 2017 and Elwood, 91, died in April 2024. Barry is survived by his brother Jeff, Suzanne and Kael.
Kael said he was very close with his dad and they bonded over sports, especially tennis. He said he has enjoyed chatting with old customers and past employees who stopped by the store to reminisce since Barry died.
"He definitely touched a lot of different people, whether it was helping with their wedding or giving them a job," Kael said. "He was just a great guy all around."
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