RIB & RHEIN, a fashion and lifestyle boutique for men and women, abruptly and permanently closed their store on William Street earlier this week after 10 years in business.

“It’s our 10-year Anniversary and we have an announcement to make.We sadly regret to inform you that the Newport Flagship Boutique is closing as of November 1st. After 10 incredible years, we would like to sincerely thank you for all your patronage and outstanding loyalty. This has been the most gut-wrenching, difficult decision we have ever made”, Thomas and Erin Ribeiro, owners of RIB & RHEIN wrote to customers this week.

RIB & RHEIN opened in 2008 with the purpose of this retail concept “to be the first and only choice for the most discerning consumers, the consumers with the highest expectations”, according to the businesses website..

“As a family-owned company, the Newport boutique is no longer viable for us as a year-round business and operating a luxury concept store such as RIB & RHEIN , is a very expensive proposition,” the owners wrote in the email. “The strength of our company’s growth model and long-term vision has always been the agility and flexibility to quickly rise and adapt to new challenges within this ever-changing retail environment”.

In October, RIB & RHEIN was named the most beautiful independent store in Rhode Island by Architectural Digest. “Blue-and-white-striped awnings and manicured planters coax the fashionable clientele of Newport into this elegant boutique,” A&D stated.

RIB & RHEIN’s email to customers concluded with;

We predicted that retail would change even more rapidly in the last five years than it has over the past century. We also believe that bigger changes are inevitable and we as retailers need to make tough decisions. Closing the boutique that many of you have come to know and loved, from when it was just a single level store to joining us in celebration as we expanded to the entire building, is not easy for us at all.

From our very first fashion show in 2009, atop the rooftop of The Hotel Viking to the recent series of amazing in store events with Fashion Icon Iris Apfel , you have been there for us and we thank you.

However the reality of today’s retail environment shows trends have significantly impacted this industry including demographic changes, multichannel and mobile commerce, and so on. Collectively they are redefining what it takes for our company to be a successful retailer. Therefore we have to restructure our model.

For additional information please email: Info@RIBandRHEIN.com

We could not have achieved so much success in the last 10 years without your love, support and patronage, so THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.

See you soon on the other side……

Our Very Best with PEACE, LOVE and HAPPINESS!

Thomas & Erin Ribeiro xx

It is unknown who will fill the vacant storefront at this time.

For more information, visit www.ribandrhein.com.

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