Great Clothiers Now Gone
I saw that Eljo’s is either going to soon sell out or close its doors, marking the end of a string of fantastic clothiers in Charlottesville.
When I moved to Charlottesville in 1967 to take the reins of the Men’s Department at Leggett Barrack’s Road, the competition was fierce. Three doors down was Ed Michtom’s, who sold the finest brands available and had a stable of professionals to offer advice about fit and style. Downtown Charlottesville featured The Young Men’s Shop which sold Hart, Shaffner and Marx; Hickey Freeman; Southwick; Kingsridge and many other fine brands. The Young Men’s Shop had a staggering inventory. If you were 44-short, they could show you 30 different suits. They also had a solid staff of trained personnel. Add to that, Page Foster, on the UVA Corner. Page Foster carried numerous traditional lines but also sold clothing with flair and style.
And Eljo’s was one of the best of all. Eljo’s specialized in custom suits and coats. They could show you hundreds of swatches of fine wools and tweeds and make a garment just for you – in a matter of weeks.
The only surviving Men’s Clothier from the early days will now be the Young Men’s Shop, also on the Downtown Mall, but I never considered them in the same category as Michtom’s, the Young Men’s Shop, Page Foster or Eljo’s.
Whereas the UVA students were once the backbone of this market, they are no longer players. Many don’t even own a sport coat. They were jeans, tee shirts and tennis shoes.
I don’t know how the fine menswear manufacturers can exist. Their markets have vanished. And it’s a shame. There was once a time, not too long ago, when a glen plaid Shetland sport coat went well with a pair of grey flannel slacks, a blue button-down collar shirt and a silk club tie, and men looked all the finer for it.
