MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2020

62 Kilfoyle, Murray and Andersen have expanded Squire John’s summer business into outdoor furnishings, and a few years back acquired Slalom Gate at Georgian Peaks Club, as well. Through these changes, and in an era of cutthroat online and discount stores, they’ve stuck to their philosophy and thrived. “It’s successful because it’s a people business, and they look after their people,” comments Kimble, whom the guys still look to as a mentor. Squire’s has been looking after Nathan Laurie and his family for forty years. He first made the two-hour trek from Toronto with his parents and now cherishes that drive with his children. “It’s a ritual, almost like Christmas,” he says. “John [Murray] always gives us so much attention. And you want to do business with people you care about in life. Coming here, it feels like home.” His father Frank remembers his decades of visits: “You were home when you walked in there; you knew everybody. It was a social gathering to come to Squire John’s. We’d come in in the morning for a boot fitting and spend half our day there. But nobody minded. Everybody had fun.” Squire John’s celebrates their 50 th season in business this year, marking the milestone with little fanfare besides a renewed focus on what’s brought them this far: fun and family, service and people. Their own recipe for success. In an era of cutthroat online and discount stores, they’ve stuck to their philosophy and thrived. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The Shop, early days. John Will. Staff mountain bike day. Mark Andersen (L) and John Murray. SQUIRE JOHN’S IMAGE ARCHIVE