SPOTLIGHT ON SYD JEROME

Sometimes when you least expect it, something nice happens to restore your faith in the universe. Scott Shapiro, always brutally honest about the challenges in our changing retail world, received a lovely surprise when the IRMA (Illinois Retail Merchants Association) featured Syd Jerome in a recent video piece on noteworthy stores statewide. (The video was funded in part by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.)

In it, Scott got to talk about his dad (who founded the store in 1958) and the close relationship they had. He jokingly describes his clientele as “run of the mill millionaires and billionaires,” adding that though his top brands (Canali, Isaia, Brioni) are luxury-priced, the store actually caters to everyone. It’s also had five different downtown locations in 66 years, leaving Scott unsure of who will rent all the now-empty storefronts. “Covid changed everything,” he confides. “No one’s coming downtown to shop anymore, so business is not as much fun. That said, our commitment to luxury fashion, and to our customers, remains unchanged. Ours is a story of resilience: we’re the last menswear store standing, and we intend to be here for a long time to come.”

See more IRMA retail success stories at weareretail.irma.org.