Hi,
I spent my summers growing up in Gloucester. Back in the sixties there used to be a high end fashion store in Magnolia called Ina’s. Once a year my mother would go there to buy one dress. It was a big occasion. I am trying to find someone who might remember this store.
Hope someone does.
Thank you.
Mary Giurleo
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HI Mary, Yes, Ina’s was a store in Magnolia in the 1950′s and 60′s, and 70′s. It was haute couture for Cape Ann. My grandmother, Melissa C. Smith ran the Blacksmith Shop and Easterly Inn restaurants during that period and we had fashion shows every Thursday and Ina would do them sometimes. I sometimes even modeled for her. The Ina’s experience was incredible. The window displays were fabulous and her clothing while classic had an edge and fantastically good taste. When you tried something on and came out of the dressing room there was a living room style area with mirrors where you would show off to whomever (in my case my parents or grandparents) was buying you the clothing. The clothing at Ina’s was an investment. I remember my mother buying me a wool coat there in 1965 when I was in Central Grammar. It was camel beige with these little square pinstripes of color running through it in blocks, very geometric, very carnaby street. It had a trench coat look with a belt, labels, and high collor I flipped up. I looked like Mary Quant or the “Get Smart” girl, very fashionable at the time. I loved that coat! The other Gloucester store which did a lot of fashion shows for us was Adaskos. They were on Main Street and also had a larger store in Salem. We bought lots of clothing at Adaskos. There was the Empire experience, because they carried underclothing downstairs, Browns, which carried hats and lots of Men’s things. The cases from Browns are still being used in the Green store owned by the Common Crow girls and when I see them it brings me back, kind of like time travel to the old Browns store which was on levels where Browns Mall is now. I can’t forget Goldman’s which always had great clothing too. I actually talk a bit about the fashion shows of the 1960′s era and a photo of me modeling on the “runway” at Easterly Inn in my cookbook and historic memoir “The Legacy of Three Melissas” which is available at local bookstores. So yes, Ina’s and Ina herself was a classic. I don’t remember her last name but she had an accent, maybe french or hungarian. She wore an incredible french twist hair style and I seem to remember her in classic pencil skirts and pearls. A blond and more buxom Audrey Hepburn look. Maybe other’s know more about what became of her. I remember the store until the early 70′s and then it is sort of hazy after that. Kind Regards, Melissa Smith Abbott
Thanks for responding. As a little girl it was such a big occasion going there. My mother saved up to buy one dress. I remember it being
very fancy inside. Those memories I treasure. My mother passed away 3 years ago and it’s nice to know other people have the same memories you can reminisce with. I was wondering if you remember another great place we went to- Misty Acres Restsurant in Essex?
I remember Ina’s well. My mother bought me a straw summer hat for church in the 60′s. I still remember how special I felt shopping there.
Thank you! I loved going there with my mother. It was such a grown up thing to do.
My family was good friends with one of Mrs. Ina’s daughters and her family. When they came to visit from Ohio we always visited at her hoome in Magnolia. My younger sister and I always had one of the dresses that she sold for Christmas cards. Very nice family!!
I remember Ina’s very well. It was such a beautiful and elegant shop! I felt so grown-up and sophisticated going there. My best friend and I had custom dresses made for us at Ina’s for our first big yacht club dance when we around 13. Mine was a shimmery icy-pink satin brocade. I have never forgotten that dress! Ina’s made me feel like a princess. How could I ever forget that?
I will always treasure the memories of going there with my mother each summer!
Elinor Ina was at the 1961 reunion and she lives in Alpharetta, GA a suburb of Atlanta. It was her mom,s store
her name was Ina Mahiba
I remember Ina’s well. It was on the corner and I believe the building houses an interior designer/custom sewing business now. It was always a special occasion to go there for something special.
There was at least one other sister to Elinor and her names was Rhoda Ina. I think she married a Silva man from Gloucester. Beautiful family.
i’m getting my info from the Polk’s directory for 1957-1958 ..Looks like Elinor’s mother’s first name may have been Mahiba…I think maybe got it backwards in my last post…
Mrs. Mahiba Ina and her son Alfred are now residents of Florida. There were five children, Irene,Sammy,Alfred,Rhoda and Elinor. And what a store she had!!
Thank you to everyone who shared their special memories of Ina’s. My family had a cottage on Wingaersheek beach growing up and I loved my summers spent in Gloucester. I will never forget the penny candy store in Rockport, seafood dinners at Misty Acres in Essex and the beautiful Cape Ann Church. Gloucester is one of my favorite places on earth.
I grew up in Magnolia and Ina’s was a store we went to for a very special occasion. My mom took me there to buy a gown for a junior prom held at Castle Hill. The gown cost $30.00 dollars(a lot for our family) in the 60′s. Ina’s was a classic.
My mom, Mahiba Ina, owned the store, Ina of Magnolia for many years. Mom retired to West Palm Beach, Florida and lives with my brother, Alfred. Mom is still in good health for her age and in January we will celebrate her 100th birthday!! She loved having the stores and never forgot the wonderful, faithful customers she had over the years. Thank you for remembering a truly beautiful and successful store and a lady who worked hard to make it a success.
Thank you for sharing this info with me. I remember those special annual trips to Ina’s with my mother fondly!
My mom, Mahiba Ina came to this country in 1933 from Lebanon as a new bride.My mom & dad had stores in Palm Beach in the winter & Magnolia in the summer. When my father died in 1943, the family spent the winters in Jacksonville and when we started high school we moved to Magnolia year round. Being the only store in Magnolia during the winter was a challenge but she had her mind made up to work hard and succeed in which she did. She loved her shop and her dear customers who she still talks about and she always say that she misses them so. We love West Palm Beach but Magnolia will always be in our blood. Magnolia in those days was like a piece of Heaven on Earth. It breaks my heart to see whats left of Magnolia and how it is neglected by Gloucester. My mom sends all her love to all of you and thanks you for remember her. You all made her day so special and I thank you all.
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