McCulloch’s – The Origin Story What originally opened as a dance-wear shop became the go- to location for various costume and party needs in London and 63 years later, if you need things for a theatre production or a dance performance, maybe a giant mascot or even a balloon arch, McCulloch’s is a great place to find it. It’s even fun to just walk around the store and imagine all the fun things you can plan for or dress up as.
on to study balloon artistry. Since then, McCulloch’s and their trained staff continue to provide incredible decorations for all sorts of events. McCulloch’s has been hit hard during the chaos of road construction over the past year, not to mention roadwork that was done only a few years back. Some of the construction has made it almost impossible to access the store. Like the other businesses, they are hopeful that once the work is completed, the passers-by will once again show interest in all that Dundas East has to offer. As they prepare for the upcoming seasons of dance lesson demands, school shows and Halloween to say the least, the McCullochs family takes great pride in the unique enterprise they have created in Old East Village. Left column: Dance instructor Jean Campbell with dancers, and Dorothy’s sister Darlene with friends at the Moosejaw location.. Right column: Dorothy and Jack.
To advertise here, please contact Marty@villagerpublications.com Later in the 90s the store was approached by a high school prom committee asking if McCulloch’s could provide balloons and decorations for their special night. Though they normally provided balloons more suitable for clown professionals, Rose (Dorothy and Jack’s daughter-in-law) took the challenge. This experience brought things to a whole new level as she went With the aid of their son Doug and other family members, the company branched out of the city, opening locations in Toronto, Barrie, Burlington and even as far as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The company continued to expand its merchandise with their son Don’s interest in novelty items. This grew into the greater costume and party supply store that so many Londoners are familiar with today. Now located at 1140 Dundas, McCulloch’s has been bringing people to London East since it opened at its original location at 1195 Dundas St. Dorothy McCulloch, now a 101-year-old retired dance teacher, seeing the demand for dance-wear, sourced out, supplied and even created pieces by hand for various performers all over the city. The need grew so much that after six months, she was unable to handle the demand. Her carpenter husband, Jack, chose to put down his hammer and learn to sew. Jack also directed a Sweet Adeline chorus to national championships, which regularly needed costumes for their performances. This, along with Jack’s own performing bar- bershop quartet would regularly need outfits, which launched their costume rental department. Square dancing became quite popular as well, and the need for the right dance attire spurred them to start manufacturing outfits, crinolines and more.
Old East Villager September 2025 • Page 7
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