Chairs invite customers and passersby to sit a spell outside St. Clair’s for Men and Owatonna Shoe.
THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID for a long-standing men’s fine clothing store like St. Clair’s for Men in Owatonna.
My husband, who was shopping for a suit for our eldest daughter’s wedding, ended up at St. Clair’s after quick stops at two large retail chain stores. In at least one of those stores, we rummaged through racks of suit coats and dress pants without a clerk in sight to assist.
Randy received attentive personal service at St. Clair’s for Men.
But the minute we walked in the door at St. Clair’s, 117 N. Cedar Avenue in downtown Owatonna, Randy received top notch personal service. I didn’t get the employee’s name, but he knew sizes just by looking at my husband, although he did pull out the tape measure for arm length. He’s worked at St. Clair’s for 27 years.
According to the business’ website, “With over 140 years of combined menswear experience, we are sure we’ll spoil you for shopping anywhere else.” They got that right.
A snippet of the fine clothing at St. Clair’s.
Since 1890—that’s 123 years—this business, owned by Greg Krueger since 1982, has served men in southern Minnesota.
Meandering through the store, I found this iron set up in the rear. Another example of customer service.
Shopping at St. Clair’s, for us, took the stress out of purchasing a suit for the most important day of a father’s life. Randy got a perfect fit, after free alterations at the in-house tailor’s shop.
Randy even brought home a leaflet on how to tie ties.
A small sampling of the ties sold at St. Clair’s.
The sales prices of the suit coat, pants, white shirt and tie made buying here no more costly than purchasing from a mega retailer.
A model business motto, “your personal men’s store,” imprinted upon a St. Clair’s bag.
If this sounds like an enthusiastic endorsement of St. Clair’s for Men, it is.
St. Clair’s for men sits next to Owatonna Shoe, a family-owned business which has been “serving the area for over 65 years, with service, quality and fit!” Catch that? Service, just like that offered at St. Clair’s.
I’m all for great customer service, a business art that seems mostly lost but for these small town independently-owned Main Street shops.
Full service independent men’s clothing stores are rare these days. I remember when two such shops, Jim & Joe’s and Ochs Department Store, existed in downtown Faribault. No more.
So I am especially thankful for places like St. Clair’s for Men which, with knowledge, individual attention and outstanding customer service, transformed my hardworking blue collar husband in to one mighty handsome father-of-the-bride.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
It’s the perfect suit–he looks very handsome. Glad you had such a great experience at the shop—it is rare sometimes to find great customer service so when you do you just want to shout about it. Glad you guys had such a success story.
Great customer service used to be the norm. Not so much anymore.
And it is why I always give props when there is—I go above and beyond to be appreciative when it happens in hopes that it will encourage more of the same.
That is an excellent plan. I, likewise, attempt to convey my appreciation when customer service is excellent.
There are somethings you just cannot browse on and i-anything. Nothing can replacing seeing things first-hand, trying them on to get a good feel for what you are purchasing. Half-ass customer services, if any, is the norm. This indeed is a rare thing. Josehson’s in Red Wing has been in business since 1878. If you are ever in the area, stop in and check that store out. It is like walking back in time. http://www.startribune.com/business/14167281.html
Thanks for the tip on Josehson’s in Red Wing. I was hoping some readers would share such great locally grown businesses with me. I expect Owatonna Shoe, next door to St. Clair’s would provide equally great customer service.
We have Burkhartzmeyer’s Shoes, a third generation family owned business here in Faribault, which offers the BEST customer service. This mother-of-the-bride purchased her wedding shoes there. The employees measure your feet and assure a good fit. There’s also an in-house shoe repair shop.
A lot of MN & WI towns have these fabulous stores. Support them or they will be gone. Red Wing obviously has Red Wing Shoe Store, but the treasure is Walt’s Shoe Repair. Sounds similar to your local shoe store. It has been around for ages.
Walt’s Shoe Repair…even the name is endearing.
🙂 it sure is.
The Father-of-the-Bride looks very distinguished in his new clothes and I can’t wait
to see pictures of the wedding! I know the Mother-of-the-Bride will look beautiful too.
We were looking at wallpaper (not as important as wedding finery) at Menard’s in Marshall on Monday and they were 1 roll short of what we wanted so I asked the
guy helping us??? if they could get it from another Menard’s store for us. He said he
would see..he came back with the telephone no. for Menard’s in New Ulm & Willmar
and said he looked on the computer and Willmar Menard’s had 8 rolls and New Ulm 7.
Duh!!!! I could have done that. They used to call and just get from another store.
Needless to say we went home. No help at all in that store. I know what you mean
about service. Now days there isn’t any service at these Big Box Stores.
Besides that he didn’t know anything about wallpaper. Good thing my husband was
along because that was his trade.
DeLores
DeLores, I’m not surprised by your experience at a Big Box store. That seems quite typical, although there certainly are exceptions.
I could show you photos of the wedding dress, bridesmaid dress and mine, but those can’t be revealed in advance of the wedding.
Very handsome!!!! We prefer shopping small town, also! In NE Mpls DH grew up going to a men’s store, also (Ecklunds) and I was always impressed with the personalized, expert, ‘in-house’ service. One less thing on the “to-do” list!!!! Hugs……
Excellent. I love hearing about these places that offered/offer great personalized service. And, yes, one more thing crossed off the list.
Huge exhale heard!!!! LOL!
That’s a handsome Father of the bride, and a perfect suit–I think!
Now what are you wearing? 🙂
PS. I love the Owatonna Shoe store also, they even have the clown helium tank to fill balloons for kids–just like when I was a kid!
Oh, I have my navy blue dress (from the Dress Barn) and shoes (from Burkhartzmeyers) already.
OK, now after hearing about that helium tank to fill balloons for kids, I most certainly need to stop at Owatonna Shoes. Fabulous idea, just like the suckers tied to string wrapped around shoeboxes at Burkhartzmeyers in Faribault.
Randy looks very dapper in his new suit, I’m glad you found such a great place to find him his wedding attire. Do you have your dress Audrey?
I got my dress about a month ago from the Dress Barn. Also have my shoes. I’m good to go. The girls were with me when I was dress shopping, which helped a lot. The bride-to-be’s opinion was the deciding factor in dress choice.
I LOVE menswear shops.. they are the best. Thank goodness you went there. I bet you are excited about the big day approaching.. you are all going to look marvellous.. c
Yes, St. Clair’s for Men was the best choice for the perfect suit for Randy. We are getting excited. But thinking, too, about all the work yet to be done…
Thanks for the shout out to St. Clair’s for Men in downtown, Owatonna, one of my favorite places to shop. And yes, they do know what they’re doing and are very professional courteous.
You are most welcome. I will recommend St. Clair’s to anyone after our wonderful experience there. Professional and courteous are perfect adjectives to describe the service.
Now I really need to visit Owatonna Shoes. From what I’ve read in comments submitted by other readers, that business also offers great customer service.
Wonderful article! We are all disappointed to note that St. Clair’s closed this past summer after 125 years. Thank you for encouraging people to continue to ‘shop small’!
Thank you. I believe St. Clair’s is still open, having a going out of business sale. What a loss to Owatonna and the surrounding area.