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| January 2, 1958 Sam Klein newspaper ad |
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| 1963 Sam Klein logo |
Anyway, here's an article (below) that provides a nice history of the beginnings of the Sam Klein Company. As opposed to Kline's, which was part of a national chain, Sam Klein was just one store – and one of the oldest businesses in Lorain.
The article appeared in the Lorain Journal on June 21, 1958.
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Sam Klein Established In 1880'sThe Sam Klein Company, 425 Broadway, was established by Sam Klein in a small frame structure 64 years ago on North Broadway where most of the business district was located in the late 1800's.
The company claims it is the oldest men's store in the city in years and the youngest in appearance and merchandising of latest styles for men and boys.
Julius Klein, the present owner and no relation to the founder, purchased the company in 1927 when the business was carried on in about 2,000 square feet of space. There were only two employes then.
As the community grew and the demand for more and better clothing increased, the Sam Klein Company expanded and remodeled with the times.
The store, one of the finest dealing in men's and boy's wear in the states, now occupies more than 4,500 square feet and has 10 employes.
In 1953, and expansion program resulted in an increase of 33 percent in selling space. The latest open visual displays were installed to permit customers complete access to merchandise for easier selection.
A modern store front was built, air conditioning was installed and new lighting, floor covering and store fixtures were added.
The owner had two sons, Warren and Allan, who are associated with him in the management of the store.
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As the article indicated, Sam Klein moved his business around a bit in the early years. The 1891 city directory had the company listed as being located above 59 Broadway. The next available book (1898-99) had the business at 311 Broadway.I'm not sure when Sam Klein actually closed. Its location at 425 Broadway is now a parking lot next to the Driscol Music Company, and the clothing store is just one more fading memory in the mind of aging Lorainites.
If anyone out there remembers the store and/or ever shopped there, be sure to leave a comment.
I remember Sam Klein! When I was in junior high, all the cool guys bought their dress clothes and accessories at Sam Klein's and Ted Jacobs'. Silk socks, Ban-Lon shirts, ties and other neckwear, that's where you got 'em, if you wanted to count.
ReplyDeleteChuck Short - Jackson MI
ReplyDeleteThey moved to the Midway Mall sometime in the 70's or 80's. My dad used to buy his suites at Sam Kleins. I actually bought my graduation suite there (LC class of 80).
We were Harry's Mens Wear Shoppers on special occasions. I also remember Louis Cohns Kohns?. That is alot of mens wear for one downtown.
ReplyDeleteWarren Klein took over the store and his brother bowed out. Warren opened a store out by Midway Mall, in the strip mall on the other side of the overpass and was there for a number of years. He had two sons, Johnathan and David, and lived in Vermilion. My son went to school with them. Johnathan got cancer and passed away while in college in Pennsylvania, and David passed away about 4 or 5 years later. I don't know what from. The death of both of his sons let the air out of Warren and he was never the same again. He sold the store shortly after his last son passed away and I haven't heard of him since.
ReplyDeleteChuck Short - Jackson MI
ReplyDeleteHi Bill, I saw your name and was curious, are you the Bill Fedor of USS and Super Steel? If so, I met you a long time ago at a SSTC golf outing. Hope you are doing well.
PBS tonight, Finding your roots.
ReplyDeleteSinger Carol King was on, they went back through her family, they were too poor and had no way to support themselves and were to be sent back to Russia just after 1905 made Jews equal. The antisemitism brought them here.
Just then, a man named Sam Kline came forward and saved them form being sent back.
But the show's host couldn't find who Sam Kline was?
I wondered if there was a possible connection and tried unsuccessfully to contact the show.
My comments wouldn't go through.
If you get this, good luck,
Phil
in the mid-1950's, my dad was a new accountant at National Tube. He was 6'!" and weighed all of 126 pounds. He bought all his suits at Sam Klein's because they could fit him and alter his suits perfectly. Dad liked to dress well. It was a joke about his back pockets almost meeting. My special memories include going to Sam Klein's on a Saturday or after work to shop or pick up a suit. Sam Klein would always call my dad when new merchandise arrived that would fill my dad's needs. Service like that is hard to come by today. I loved my early years in Lorain -- it hurts seeing the city today. Back in the 1950's, it was a snapshot of a great American city.
ReplyDeleteRobin Bring
Eatonton Georgia
My cousin just found and sent me the link to this article/comment thread...what a great connection to my family history! Also a chance to clarify a few things from the comments thread:
ReplyDeleteOur grandfather, Julius Klein, happened to purchase the men's clothing store from a Sam Klein--no relation, just coincidental (common) last name. dads--Allan (my uncle) and Warren (my dad) ran the store together after their dad (Allan was very much part of the store when it opened in 1968 as an original retailer in the new Midway Mall...he was 11 years older, and so retired well before my dad, but was part of the store through the Midway Mall years).
A few other corrections to some of the comments--sadly, yes, my younger brother, Jonathan did die of cancer in his freshman year of college, after the family moved to Vermilion, and my other younger brother, David died 20+ years later. We all worked at the store in our teen and college years... Our dad, Warren, died just this past July after years of declining health, but relished memories of growing up, raising his family and running the store in Lorain, and would be so gratified to know that people remembered the quality merchandise and personalized service that he was so proud to offer at Sam Klein Co. (later renamed "Klein's Store for Men")