By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Nov 27, 2008 at 9:53 AM

The current economy is tough on just about all of us, but hit hardest are the independent, locally owned businesses often over shadowed by much larger, commercial big box retailers able to offer bigger discounts.

The East Side's Ess Elle Style Studio, 1919 E. Kenilworth Pl., is just one of several small Milwaukee businesses closing its doors soon. Ess Elle is a women's clothing and accessories boutique featuring stylish, classic looks.

Owner Sarah Skinner today announced her going out of business sale, offering 30 percent off storewide.

"I am extremely disappointed with this outcome. However, due to many factors, but primarily because my business partner was not fully committed to the success of our store, I am forced to take this action," says Skinner. "Consumers know Ess Elle Style Studio for our style, quality, and great value and I am confident that the deep discounts available through a going out of business sale will drive significant traffic in our store, and set up my vision for an even better boutique down the line."

Skinner says she hopes that her time off will allow her to reorganize and re-open "better than ever" in the future. In the mean time, hit the store up on your Black Friday excursion.

 

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”