Fashion History Museum in Cambridge given two months to move out

The City of Cambridge has given the owners of the Fashion History Museum (FHM) until May 19 to remove all items from the Queen Street building.

It’s an extension the museum had asked for the same day they were told the lease would be ending on March 18.

The city had originally asked the museum to leave by the end of March. It now has two months, instead of a couple of weeks to pack everything up.

The city says the decision to end the lease was due to around $140,000 in unpaid rent, dating back to June 2023.

The city notes in a release it “is not in a position to provide an apartment suite to the FHM for its staff or others to live in rent free.”

The FHM is located in the Hespeler Village area of the city at 74 Queen St. E., at the corner of Queen and Cooper streets.

The museum itself operates out of the main floor of the building, while the museum curators live on the second floor in an apartment suite. The city says a campaign launched by the FHM to garner public support for an extension to move out of the space, was “unnecessary.”

“The City of Cambridge has been fair and reasonable throughout this process and appreciates the need for additional time to vacate and make alternate arrangements,” reads a statement on the city’s website.

“The City has been flexible throughout this process and had already informed FHM staff that they will have access to the space until May 19, as originally requested by the Chair of the Fashion History Museum.”

The release goes on to say there had already been “an extensive process of engagement and negotiation since 2023,” and alternative options including reduced rent payments, partial payment forgiveness, and a repayment plan were all offered.