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The company received national and international attention and awards including a listing in Esquire Magazine as one of the top ten specialty retailers in the United States and was featured in Esquire, Forbes, GQ and the Wall Street Journal.
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. |
Key people | Founded by Joe and Gene Silverberg |
| Products | Clothing |
| Website | none |
Bigsby & Kruthers was a high profile men's clothier in Chicago for 30 years from 1970 to 2000. The company was founded by Joe Silverberg, joined shortly thereafter by his brother, H. Gene Silverberg, and was privately held. The chain started as a small jeans and army surplus store on Broadway and Briar St., and at it's peak, there were upscale suit stores on the Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park (1750 N. Clark Street), Water Tower Place, LaSalle Street, Oakbrook Center, and Northbrook Court (with a focus on women's wear). Other locations had opened and closed (or moved), including a Dallas, Texas store that opened in 1986 for several years, Diversey Pkwy. near Clark St., Woodfield Mall, Brickyard Mall, an outlet store in Gurnee Mills, and a franchise in Madison, Wisconsin.[1][2][3][4]
The image Bigsby & Kruthers portrayed was more European tailored and fashion-forward than more traditional competitors, such as Paul Stuart.[1]
The chain was recognized for innovative and award winning store design (including large tie walls), and advertising (including a traffic stopping multi-sided mural on their warehouse building along the Kennedy Expressway, a "Suit Book" series of celebrity photos, print, radio and television advertising). It was also known for its celebrity clients, including major sports figures (notably Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson, Frank Thomas, Sammy Sosa, and Chicago Bears), newscasters, politicians, and CEO's. In popular culture, a faux Bigsby & Kruthers storefront is visible in the mall car chase scene in The Blues Brothers (film).[3][5][6][7][8][9]
In 1989 Bigsby & Kruthers launched Knot Shop (originally "Knot Krazy"), a now defunct national chain of 35 tie stores that also sold scarves and boxer shorts, and that employed Monica Lewinsky before she became a White House intern.[10][11]
The company was also principally involved in Bigsby's Bar & Grill, Michael Jordan's Restaurant, and various licensing deals. [12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "BIGSBY BRACES FOR RIVALS WITH MAG MILE MOVE" (Background) Crain's Chicago Business, Feb 6, 1995. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Bigsby & Kruthers To Expand" (Dallas) Chicago Tribune, Jan 13, 1986. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ a b "Shop Talk - When Gene And Joe Silverberg Talk Clothes, The City's Influential Men (and Women) Listen." (Background, Celebrity) Chicago Tribune, Mar 3, 1993. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Bigsby Revival - Freed Press Release 2009" (Revival, Awards, Celebrity) Joseph Freed and Associates - Block 37 New Leases, Press Release, March 25, 2009
- ^ "Top Honors - Chain Store Age - 1996 Retail Store of the Year" (Awards) Chain Store Age, Feb97, Vol. 73 Issue 2, p12RSO. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Whatever Suits The Coach" (Celebrity) SunSentinel, Jan 22, 1998. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "This Traffic Stopper Is A Face That Can Halt 1,000 Cars" (Mural) Chicago Tribune, Feb 26, 1996. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Bigsby & Kruthers Salutes Creativity With Some Creativity Of Its Own" (Suit Book) Chicago Tribune, Dec 14, 1988. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ Blues Brother's movie still pic (Blues's Brothers). Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Bigsby To Launch Tie-in To Clothier" (Knot Shop) Chicago Tribune, Mar 13, 1989. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Monica Lewinsky and her knotty ties to men's wear" (Lewinsky) Daily News Record, Feb 4, 1998. Retrieved May 2013.
- ^ "Apparel Lines Have Jordan`s Number" (Licensing) Chicago Tribune, Nov 12, 1990. Retrieved May 2013.