Over the years, Phil and Marsha Turvold said they've learned a lot about the retail clothing business, most recently by operating Leuthold's in downtown Austin.

However, by the beginning of summer, the two will close the store and will move on to an undecided adventure.

Starting Thursday, Leuthold's begins its final sale, as the store will close once all the merchandise is sold.

The store has been a fixture in the downtown area for the past 83 years. It's been there for so long, Marsha Turvold points out, that it previously was a provisional market for the Geo. A Hormel & Co.

"We saw a picture with horses in front of it, all tied up on Main Street," she said.

The Turvolds have been working at the downtown Leuthold's store since 1985 and have owned it for the past eight years.

And, yes, there have been changes.

"The whole retail business has changed, but especially a lot in the past 10 years," Phil Turvold said.

Marsha Turvold mentioned that nearly every type of stores these days - including supermarkets - are selling some type of clothing item. "There's a lot everywhere. There's not shortage of anything."

That's not to say the couple hasn't enjoyed their time in the business.

"Retail's been good to us, but it's time to make a change," she said.

"Austin's been good to us," Phil Turvold noted. "It's just the nature of the business."

Both said they will miss seeing their customers and being able to personally meet their clothing needs.

"We've made a lot of good friends in retail," Marsha Turvold said. "A lot of your customers become your friends. You get to know them on a first-name basis. We're actually going to miss all of that."

"Our key customers are middle- to older-aged," Phil Turvold said. "We know our customers and can buy for our customers. They've been very loyal and very good to us."

The Turvolds said that although both men's and women's clothes are available for purchase, the largest items available are the more than 700 suits and sport coats.

Beginning Thursday, the store's hours will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at dan.fields@austindailyherald.com