Jane Sweeney of
MJ Fashions & Gifts
92 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2020
Jane Sweeney
A Retail Dream Fulfilled
Jane Sweeney grew up in St. Petersburg and
remembers going downtown and walking into
Maas Brothers department store when she was a
very young girl with eyes as big as saucers in awe of
its beauty. Jane knew then that one day, her dream of
owning her own lovely store would become reality.
After schooling, she moved to southern California.
When Nordstrom’s came to her town, she applied
and was instantly hired part time while she continued
attending college. She knew this was her career path
and soon became full time, climbing the ladder to
become a buyer in the Los Angeles area. In the quest of
finding her own, Jane left Nordstrom’s and became a
corporate sales representative and showroom manager
for a sportswear company in Los Angeles.
Still holding on to her dream of owning her own
store, Jane had the opportunity of a full partnership of
an expanding ladies boutique company in the Phoenix,
Arizona area. She took her experiences back with her
to southern California and expanded her knowledge of
the manufacturing end of the business, while working
for a dress manufacturer.
Since her heart was still in Florida, Jane and her
husband Michael moved back in 1998. She went to
work at Jacobson’s in Clearwater, while on the lookout
for the perfect spot to begin her lifelong dream of
owning her own store.
In November of 2002, Jane’s dream became a reality,
when she opened MJ Fashions & Gifts in downtown
Dunedin. She wanted to add her own personal
touches to the same ambience that Maas Brothers and
Nordstrom’s had afforded. Within a year of opening
MJ’s, Jane lost her husband of 18 years.
While running her successful MJ Fashions with a staff
of six ladies, Jane also gave back to the community. She
was Dunedin Chamber of Commerce’s board chairman
in 2015-2016, and earlier served on its board and that of
the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association. Jane
co-founded Visit Dunedin and was a member of its
board. In addition to other memberships, she presented
fundraising fashion shows for numerous organizations
throughout Pinellas County. She even dedicated a wall
in her store to display local artworks for members of the
Creative Artists Guild. In addition, Jane is a member
of both the Sterling Society of the Dunedin Fine Art
Center and the Women in Philanthropy of Morton Plant
Mease Foundation.
Jane Sweeney’s fondest memories of her 17 ½ years
of fulfilling her dream include seeing Dunedin grow
from a sleepy little town to the vibrant community it
is today. She is proud to have been a grassroots part
of that growth. She is also proud to have inspired
confidence in her many repeat customers, who knew
that she maintained the highest integrity of quality,
fashion and customer service at her MJ Fashions &
Gifts. She also has fond memories of bringing her
mother Thelma to the store, where she became “Shop
Mom.” Jane Sweeney fulfilled her dream and is now
ready to walk away proudly, as she retires to a less
demanding life of relaxation and new adventures.
MJ Fashions & Gifts
314 Main St.
Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 736-6276