All about Forty-Five Social


By
June 15, 2022

It opened less than nine months ago as an innovative, well planned, well thought out concept. Located at 117 Spring Street, between Albert and Queen in the heart of the Sault’s downtown, Forty-Five Social has become a fresh face as a new local business.

Operating from a completely refurbished space in a well maintained premises that was first constructed in 1912, Forty-Five Social combines men’s clothing, a men’s barbershop, a bar and cafe, as well as sister store Lucy Ro Clean Beauty on the main floor of what is a tidy, three floor building.

Men’s clothing at Forty-Five Social adheres to current trends and features brands such as Jack & Jones, Scotch & Soda and Diesel. Clothes are European in design and come in all sizes.

Lucy Ro, which operates in a front corner of the spotless assembly, features women’s clothing, robes, towels, blankets, jewelry, beauty tools and toxic free products such as nail polish, deodorant, body wash, body scrubs and dry shampoo.

As for the bar that is located towards the back of the shop, it is fully stocked with wine, signature brandies and whiskies and gin and a craft beer selection that includes local Northern Superior Brewing and Outspoken Brewing products on tap. Food items include sandwiches, charcuterie boards and snacks — and home-made breadsticks, home-made butter tarts and fresh coffee are always available.

Forty-Five Social is locally owned and operated by the hands-on team of partners Mike and Sue Flammia and Robby and Tara Calvano. Friends of many years, the two couples started planning Forty-Five Social after they purchased the building at 117 Spring Street back in 2020.

To be sure, having a bar and cafe, men’s and women’s clothing, clean beauty products and a barber shop in one well laid out space is a unique concept for the Sault.

“I always say I don’t think we invented the wheel,” relayed Mike Flammia. “When we looked around there wasn’t a place like this in the Sault. You can get all these things that we feature but not in one space.”

Flammia said the response to Forty-Five Social has been “very positive and energizing.” And he noted that all four business partners are beyond thrilled to be in their chosen location in the Sault’s downtown.

“We are super happy to be part of our downtown community and the resurgence of a historic piece of our city,” Flammia told Sault Business Matters. “There are so many amazing stories and groups working hard to create spaces that the people of Sault Ste. Marie deserve. It is starting to pay off. You can see it and feel it when you are down here and we are grateful to play a small part of it all.”

In feature photo above: a couple of happy customers inside Forty-Five Social, 117 Spring St. in the Sault’s downtown.