Jan. 05--Haberdash, a men's clothing store in Chicago's River North neighborhood, is closing its doors after 10 years.
The end will come by late January, according to a sign on its window.
Haberdash was founded in 2005 on Wells Street in Old Town but moved to Tree Studios in the 600 block of North State Street about five years ago.
Last year, Chief Executive Jerry Kamhi talked to the Tribune about the challenges of running a men's clothing store.
The number of men's clothing stores in Illinois has fallen steadily over the years, down to 287 in 2013, according to a Tribune analysis last June of U.S. census data. That's less than half the stores the state had in 1998. Counts of women's clothing stores have also dropped, but not as much as men's on a percentage basis, the analysis found.
Kamhi wasn't available for immediate comment on Monday.
"After 10 years, Haberdash says farewell," says a sign in the retailer's window. "Everything must go."
"We love Haberdash, but it's time for a new chapter," the sign says. "Stop by the store on State Street or visit the website one last time and you'll find a very desirable selection of product at incredibly discounted prices."
Kamhi said last June that he considered Haberdash "a Brooks Brothers or Paul Stuart on steroids," selling "classic apparel with a twist" and appealing to a younger customer. Example: Most of its tailored clothing is "soft," not structured, he said. "Even our dress shirts, a lot are hybrids, something you can wear with a tie or not."
Actor Shia LaBeouf and talk show host Conan O'Brien have been among the celebrities who have browsed there.
Almost five years ago, Haberdash moved into a spot in Tree Studios at 607 N. State St. It outgrew that storefront, so it added a second location two doors down at 611 N. State St. Both spaces had closing notices on Sunday.
Haberdash also opened a store in Roosevelt Collection in the South Loop, but it closed earlier.
"It's going OK," Kamhi, who has worked in the men's clothing business for decades, said in June. "I'd like to tell you that business is fantastic but it's not."
Kamhi started working in retail stockrooms when he was 13. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who spent 35 years at a Chicago-based menswear chain. That chain has since disappeared, like many men's shops Kamhi once served when he worked in wholesale.
"You could drive up Milwaukee Avenue or Clark Street and go to a men's store almost every block," he said. "They're all gone."
"To be honest about it, look at the way people are dressed walking down the street or at the airport," he said.
People are more interested in spending money on experiences and less on material goods, he said. Kamhi also expressed concerns about mounting local taxes on consumers' ability to spend.
byerak@tribpub.com
