So, if you’ve lived anywhere near Fond du Lac in the last, oh, eighty-some years, you know Edith’s. It’s that massive, reliable anchor on Main Street. Walking past those windows and seeing the white lace and stiff tuxedos felt like a permanent part of the downtown scenery. But then the "Retirement Sale" signs went up, and honestly, the local rumor mill went into overdrive. People were panicked. Was it closing for good? Was another piece of Fond du Lac history biting the dust?
The short answer is: sort of, but not really. It's complicated.
Tom and Cathy Deitte, who have been the face of Edith's Bridal retirement Fond du Lac discussions recently, finally decided to hang it up after decades of service. We aren't talking about a short stint here. Tom had been working at the shop for 54 years. Let that sink in. He started when the world looked completely different, and he stayed through the rise of Amazon, the death of the mall, and a global pandemic.
The end of the Deitte Era
In July 2025, the news broke that Tom and Cathy were officially retiring. For a lot of families in the Fox Valley, this felt like losing a relative. This wasn’t just a store; it was where grandma bought her gown in the 50s, where mom found hers in the 80s, and where the kids were getting fitted for prom.
The Deittes took over the business in 1989 (Tom is actually the great-nephew of the original founder, Edith), and they turned it into a regional powerhouse. They didn't just sell dresses. They ran Tuxedo Junction, which was famous for actually keeping inventory in-house. While other shops were ordering suits from some warehouse in another state and praying they arrived on time, Tom was downstairs making sure the hemlines were perfect.
Who bought the business?
Here is where the story takes a turn. While the Deittes were retiring, the business itself wasn't actually dying. A local couple, Dave and Vicki Schmidt, stepped up to save it. Dave actually has a pretty cool connection to the place—he’s run an IT company for years and had been servicing Edith’s phones and computers for over two decades. He knew the bones of the business.
When he heard about the retirement, he basically said, "We can't let this go."
But there’s a catch. They didn't buy the building. The iconic spot at 9 S. Main Street was purchased by a developer named Sam Meyer. If you follow Fond du Lac real estate, you know Meyer is the guy who likes to turn old commercial spaces into trendy apartments. That’s exactly what’s happening to the old Edith’s. It’s being gutted for ten apartments and a new first-floor tenant.
The new Edith's Formal Wear
Because the original building is being renovated into housing, the "retirement" of the old shop meant a literal move.
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As of January 2026, the business has transitioned to its new home at 36 N. Main Street. This is the old Wood’s Floral building. It’s a bit of a shift, moving from the south end of the block to the north, but it keeps the legacy alive. The new name is Edith’s Formal Wear, and they are combining the bridal, prom, and tuxedo divisions into this new space.
It’s a smaller, more modern footprint, but the Schmidts kept some of the veteran staff members. This was a smart move because, let’s be real, you don’t go to Edith’s for the walls; you go for the consultants who know how to handle a bride-to-be having a meltdown over a bustle.
Why this matters for Downtown Fond du Lac
The retirement of the Deittes could have been a disaster for downtown. When a "destination business" like a bridal shop closes, the foot traffic disappears. People drive from Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Madison specifically for Edith's. If that disappeared, the nearby restaurants and coffee shops would have felt the sting immediately.
By moving just a few doors down, the business stays in the heart of the city. Meanwhile, the old building at 9 S. Main is being integrated into the "arts and entertainment district" vision that Sam Meyer and the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership have been pushing. There’s talk of an expanded biergarten and a permanent outdoor music stage connecting the property to 18 Hands Ale Haus.
Basically, Fond du Lac traded one massive, aging retail footprint for two separate, vibrant ones: a modernized formal wear shop and a new residential/entertainment complex.
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Real-world tips for current brides
If you had a dress on order during the Edith's Bridal retirement Fond du Lac transition, or if you're looking to shop now, here is the ground reality:
- Inventory is changing: The Schmidts have been bringing in new styles to freshen up the racks. It’s not just the "retirement sale" leftovers anymore.
- Location check: Do not go to the old 9 S. Main address unless you want to see construction workers and drywall dust. They are officially operating out of 36 N. Main.
- Tuxedo rentals: They are still doing the "in-house" thing that made them famous. This is a huge relief for anyone worried that the quality would drop under new ownership.
- Appointments are key: Even with the new ownership, they are sticking to the appointment model for bridal. It keeps the chaos down and the service personal.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a transition this smooth. Usually, when a 1937-era business owner retires, the shop just sits empty for five years until it becomes a Spirit Halloween. Seeing the legacy of Edith’s survive while the old building gets a second life as housing is probably the best-case scenario for the city.
If you’re planning a wedding in 2026, your first step should be to call the new location at (920) 921-2420 to confirm their current showroom hours. The inventory move happened right after Christmas, so the new space at 36 N. Main is now fully operational and ready for the spring prom and wedding rush.