McDonalds a Maitland Street fashion mainstay for 75 years

The McDonald name and Maitland Street are inextricably linked, with many in the district and beyond stepping out in style thanks to the fashion offering of one family business.

McDonalds Fashions has been dressing Narrabri customers for 75 years from its early days operating from 103 Maitland Street in 1947 to its current retail shop at 126 Maitland Street.

Proprietor John McDonald remembers fondly being part of the family business from a young age, assisting in the store for his parents, the late Gordon and Joan McDonald.

After completing school, John joined the family business in an official capacity at 18-years-old, with a share in the family business.

His joining the business was rather fortuitous. Gordon’s tax agent visited customers to say farewell, and upon thanking the McDonald family for their business, offered some words of wisdom to Gordon.

“He asked dad – ‘when are you bringing John into the business’,” John recalled.

“He said to dad – ‘I’ll give you some advice, and that is to bring John into the business.”

Alternatively, Gordon could have waited until John was in his 20s to officially welcome John into the fashion business’ fold, however, he could’ve run the risk of John moving away and seeking opportunities elsewhere.

Gordon took up the advice, and a new partnership was formed between parents and son, paving the way for what would be a lifetime as a Narrabri businessman for John.

Health issues took their toll on Joan, and to suit their medical needs, Gordon purchased a business in Sydney in the 1970s.

The McDonald business effectively became two shops – with John at the helm in Narrabri.

“That was fantastic for dad,” John said.

“Dad did more tailoring in two years in Sydney compared to what he did in Narrabri in 30 years.

“Dad did his hard yards in Sydney. What it enabled was being in a new environment and having severe competition, Dad rose to the occasion.

“He became as motivated as much as he was in his early 30s.”

Gordon and Joan’s temporary move to Sydney enabled John to make his own mark on the family business.

John wasn’t afraid of changing things up and bringing in new lines.

In the first 18 months of John’s time at the helm of the Narrabri business, the store’s turnover was doubled.

“The 70s were very good times,” John recalled.

“If you couldn’t make money in the 70s, you couldn’t make money anywhere.”

The Sydney business was eventually wound down as the couple returned to Narrabri permanently. Such was Gordon’s skill that his Sydney customers followed him to Narrabri for his tailoring services.

At that time, the McDonald family bought their current Maitland Street premises. A backdoor discount clothing store operated at the current site of SportsPower until the new Maitland Street premises was remodelled.

Gordon McDonald Menswear still continued to trade on one side of Maitland Street and focused on menswear, while the present site became McDonalds Fashions, offering both men’s and ladies’ fashions.

Eventually, the two sites amalgamated with the McDonald family operating the business from its current home.

Joan worked in the business until March 1981 and passed away after a long illness on January 22, 1996.

Gordon’s involvement in the business wound down across the years, however, he still enjoyed coming to the store on Saturdays to catch up with old friends and customers.

Gordon passed away on September 1, 2015.

“He died respected in business,” John said.

The many changes and achievements of the business have been witnessed by John in his 53 years’ involvement. Memories and advice from prominent identities also feature.

One such memory was John, as a young boy aged about 10-years-old, assisting Merv Kinscheler from the Strand Theatre.

John recalled his father insisting on him to measure up Merv for new trousers.

“You can imagine a boy that age being nervous about measuring up someone for trousers,” John recalled.

John vividly remembers Merv saying that he could sell him the trousers as he truly deserved the sale.

“I have had staff who have been with me up to 15 to 20 years,” he said. “I have had great staff.

“I have been very lucky to have mentors, people in Narrabri and in the trade.”

John has fond memories of well-known café proprietor Mr Manuel Aroney and remembers coming home from primary school and seeing Mr Aroney stoop down to pick up a penny.

“He looked around to see if anyone had seen him pick it up,” John said.

The next day, in Mr Aroney’s café, John was asked if he saw him pick up the penny, to which he agreed.

“He said – ‘can I give you some advice … you would fairly kick yourself if you died a penny short of a millionaire’.”

Another snippet of advice that has stuck with John came from Mr Padula, who came to Narrabri as the manager of Woolworths.

“Mr Padula said this phrase was offered to him when he started work at 15, and that was to inspect rather than expect,” John said.

“I found that phrase has served myself and my customers extremely well over the years.

“My greatest mentor, without doubt, was my father Gordon.”

Memories also include his own children – Catherine, Peter, Liz and Jennifer – working in the store in their youth.

John recalls giving Catherine the company chequebook while she was studying at university so she could visit stockhouses and purchase new stock for the store.

As he reflects on McDonalds Fashions’ 75 years in business and his own lengthy involvement as a Narrabri businessman, John has thanked the many customers who have supported the fashion store.

“This has been my second home,” he said.

“I get a real buzz out of being here.

“Thank you to anyone who has been associated with us, worked with us or even our neighbours.”

While John has been offered advice in his decades as a businessman, he has offered his own to Narrabri.

“Narrabri is still very much a progressive, stable town,” he said.

“I do still believe it has a good future.”