NORWAY – The brass handle on the front oak door has to be turned just a little more than most.

It’s old and worn, typical of most of the 113-year-old building that the L.F. Pike & Son clothing store calls home.

The age portends the comfort of the shop.

There’re no scanners, no computers and no real or plastic plants.

There’re just clothes, a lot of clothes.

The smell of leather first strikes the customer and the floor creaks with nearly every step.

Parts of the 1,800 square-feet of retail space are stocked from the floor to the stamped, tin ceiling that bows in the middle.

Three narrow aisles make their way through clothes racks and shelving loaded with men’s wear from Woolrich, Arrow, Carhartt, Pendleton and others.

Sweaters and turtlenecks are shelved to the ceiling on most of the east side wall. They sit over a double row of 17 wooden drawers.

“They’re packed full of socks and long johns,” said Christine Eastman, a clerk there. “And some may even have surprises in them. I’m not sure.”

Dress shirts, belts, ties, suits, leather jackets and pants on the the west side of the building. The center aisles have shirts, socks fleece wear and work clothes.

There’s an office in the rear that doubles as a receiving room when new shipments come in and adjacent to that is another storage room. There’re two dressing rooms – wood stalls with a curtain – and Art’s rocking chair.

Art Gouin, owner of Pike’s, said the chair has been in the family for four generations. He’s 75 (in three weeks), has owned the business for 23 years and will sit down and take a “rock” when he sees fit to do so.

Gouin owns the store, but it is deemed to go to his daughter Lesley Dean, when he retires.

If he retires.

“I planned to retire last spring,” Gouin said. “I gave notice, for all the good that did.”

Dean said he is going to get a chance to retire, just as soon the store settles on a regular schedule of help.

Dean’s son Andrew, 22, was following in the family business before going into the Army in January. He has a 4-year commitment.

But Dean says even then he might not be back to work in the business.

“Do the math, if he did 20 (years) and then came in it would be about time for me to retire,” Dean said.

Dean said her dad acquiesced to modern times by accepting credit cards “right along,” and just recently added American Express to those already accepted.

Lay aways are permitted and alterations on goods bought there are free.

Pike’s also does clubs.

“People who belong to clubs can give money to a club secretary and she brings it in every week,” Dean said. “Sort of like banking your clothing money.

“It’s an old fashioned idea that still works for a lot of people,” she said.

And old fashioned could describe the inventory system at the store.

“Computer? Who cares?” Gouin said. “Well, it would be helpful, but it would take three to four months to put in the coding and inventory.

“I understand the system,” he said. “But whether or not I want to go through the process at my age and condition is another question.”

Dean said she does expect some changes, but not many.

“We may rearrange, but we’re not going to change anything remarkably,” Dean said. “Although, I might take father’s nasty, off-white paint down.”

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