There was a time, not so long ago, when every town of a decent size would have a high-quality haberdashery. While cities like Washington would have such prominent stores as Thomas & Lewis Saltz, the Georgetown University Shop, or Raleigh’s, smaller towns like Easton would have solid equivalents such as Blades on Washington Avenue.
But now the vast majority of these classic traditional men’s stores have shut their doors, while national chains like JoS. A. Bank’s and Men’s Warehouse also face the risk of extermination as business wear has been replaced by casual attire in the corporate world as internet sales increase.
And yet a steady few of these specialty stores are still standing, and one of those is none other than Berrier’s on Dover Street. And if you asked its owner, Bruce Berrier, how his business was going, he’d say, “just fine.”
The Spy was intrigued by how this unique men’s specialty store, with such items as $400 cashmere sweaters and $40 fine wool stocks, could remain competitive in the face of a radically different marketplace and changing standards in men’s clothing needs. So we spent a few minutes with Bruce to talk about the sustainability of Berrier’s as someone who has spent his entire career in the trade, first at the original Blades, then as a manufacturer representative for the distinguished men’s suit maker Corbin, and finally starting his own business in Easton twenty-five years ago.
This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Berrier’s please go here
Craig Fuller says
Delightful interview! We should all really appreciate the commitment to Easton!! I’m going there shopping this week!
Deirdre LaMotte says
I remember going to Thomas & Lewis Saltz with my father. Garfinckles was too “hip” for him. Georgetown University Shop was a favorite
of mother and dads as well. In fact, I am wearing a coat of my late mothers from there now…the label says: Made in West Germany! A collectable 🙂