Mohawk General Store: Rare finds

Breaking the rules: New contemporary stores redefine the men’s specialty business — part one of ten

In this series from MR’s February issue, the editors talk to ten new retailers (seven brick-and-mortar, three online).

Mohawk General Store
Location: Silver Lake, Calif.
Opened in 2009
Owned by Kevin and Bo Carney
Size: 1,400 sq. ft.
Breakdown: 50/50 men’s to women’s

After Kevin and Bo Carney got married they moved to Silver Lake and couldn’t find any stores that sold independent, high-quality brands. “Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Pasadena are all up-and-coming neighborhoods filled with artists and creative-types, but all the viable shopping options are at least a 45-minute drive,” says Kevin. His background is in menswear manufacturing (he launched Generic Surplus and Generic Man, although he is no longer affiliated with either brand), so they decided to open Mohawk General Store, which features an eclectic mix of rare labels for men and women.

Best-selling brands include Dries Van Noten, Tellason denim, APC and Officine Generale. “We’ve been doing well with Wakouwa, a Japanese shoe line,” says Kevin. “They’re canvas sneakers made in Japan and come in mid-top ($305 retail) and high-top versions ($325). They’re based off a 1930s military shoe and use an Alden last, so the shoe has a really cool shape. Nonnetive is another Japanese brand that isn’t sold anywhere else in the U.S. Aspesi is like the Italian APC; so it’s a lot of military-inspired, made in Italy garments. We sold this Loro Piana cashmere/wool blend jacket for $1,500 retail. This was a pretty amazing item for a guy who wants the ultimate technical cashmere jacket.” They source brands at Pitti Uomo or through friends in Tokyo.

In addition to apparel, they carry vintage Hi-Fi turntables and speakers; product is displayed on vintage furniture that’s all for sale. Kevin says that while they carry suiting from brands like Dries Van Noten, the store’s vibe skews towards casual. “We mix it all up, while we have designer brands we also do really well with Gitman Vintage shirts. They’re our best selling men’s brand. A guy buys one and he’ll buy three more in different patterns. As long as it’s a well curated selection, you can carry anything at any price point.”