Meet the Brothers Behind Sam Klein Co. – Jan. 1972

Yesterday’s post dealt with Downtown Lorain hanging on in the early 1970s, with the businesses hoping for better times thanks to the coming urban renewal improvements.

One of those businesses still with a presence in Downtown Lorain at that time was Sam Klein Company. (I remember as a kid being confused with two stores with same-sounding names: Klein and Kline’s.)

Below is a nice profile of the store and the two men behind it: brothers Allan and Warren Klein. It ran in the Journal back on January 23, 1972 and was written by Staff Writer Glenn Waggoner. 

The name of the store has a surprising story behind it.

As the article notes, “Sam Klein opened his Broadway Avenue men’s clothing store in 1891. The same store is open today, selling 70’s fashions in a modern decor.

“The name “Sam Klein” remains above the entrance, although brothers Allan and Warren Klein are now the owners.

“The Klein brothers, however, are not even distantly related to founder Sam Klein.

““The store was bought in 1927 by our father, Julius, who was not related to Sam Klein but kept the name since it was an established business,” explained Allan Klein. “The name was purely coincidental.”

“He and his brother both worked in the store in their youth, and both are graduates of Lorain High School. They opened a second Sam Klein store at Midway Mall in 1966, which has been “doing great,” according to Warren Klein.

“He spends most of his time overseeing the Midway Mall store, while Allen Klein supervises the 425 Broadway store.”

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I’ve written about the Sam Klein Company a few times. This post dealt with the early history of the firm, and this one told the rest of the story.

Sam Klein Company: the Rest of the Story

A graphic Jan. 22, 1942 newspaper ad

Here's a few more ads and information about The Sam Klein Co. and its successor stores that I found since my post (back here). After reading some of the great reader comments, which filled in the gaps in the store's later history, I realized I'd better go back and do some more research about that era of this well-known Lorain icon.

I was surprised to find out that Sam Klein had a store out at Midway Mall in 1966, the same year the mall opened.

Here's a 1968 ad for Sam Klein (below). If you're a fan of Mad Men like the spouse and me, the show is up to 1968 right now. Based on this ad, I guess it's appropriate that Don Draper is still wearing his fedora.

Feb. 1, 1968 Journal ad

Both the Downtown Lorain store and the Midway Mall store continued to appear in the Lorain phone book until the 1975 edition, when only the Midway Mall store was listed.

On October 21, 1983 the small article (below) appeared in the Chronicle-Telegram. It announced that the Sam Klein Co. store was going to close its Midway Mall store in January 1984 in preparation for its move to a new location nearby.

Oct. 21, 1983 C-T article

The new location turned out to be to the Midway Square shopping center.

Here's a January 1, 1985 Journal ad from that era (below).

Eventually the store became known as Warren Klein's Store for Men.

In May 1994, Warren Klein announced his retirement. In large newspaper ads he stated, "After 43 years in the business personally, I have reached retirement age. I am going out of business and closing the store, which has been in my family for 103 years."

He added, "My heartfelt thanks for your many years of support."

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Here's a link to the obituary of Allan Klein, who along with his brother Warren Klein owned Sam Klein Company and its successor, Klein's Store for Men.

Sam Klein Company

January 2, 1958 Sam Klein newspaper ad

1963 Sam Klein logo

While writing about Kline's Department Store a few weeks ago, I was reminded how as a kid I was confused by the fact that there were two stores in Lorain with soundalike names: Kline's and Sam Klein. And although we shopped at Kline's, I don't remember ever going into the Sam Klein store. I guess it was because it was a men's clothing store and not one of my mother's regular stops on the Saturday morning Downtown Lorain shopping jaunt.

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's

The 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.