Geiger's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder | W. Charles "Charley" Geiger Sr. |
| Headquarters | Lakewood, Ohio , United States |
Area served | Northeast Ohio, Northwestern Pennsylvania, Western New York |
Key people | W. Charles "Chas" Geiger (CEO), Gordon Geiger (Executive Vice President and Co-owner) |
| Products | Apparel for men and women, activewear, footwear, ski and snowboard gear, sporting goods |
Geiger's operates as a multi-location retailer based in Lakewood, Ohio, focusing on apparel for men and women, activewear, footwear, ski and snowboard gear, along with various sporting goods. Established in 1932 by founder W. Charles "Charley" Geiger Sr., the company caters to customers in northeast Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York through its flagship store and additional outlets situated in Chagrin Falls and Cleveland.
After the passing of Charley Sr. in 1949, leadership transitioned to his widow Ottillia and their sons: W. Charles "Charley" Jr. along with twins Donald E. and Douglas A. Charier Jr. Charley Jr. remained engaged until 1992, when W. Charles "Chas" Geiger took over as CEO, steering the company’s strategic direction since that time.
The firm’s operational approach includes satellite shops at prominent regional locations such as Peek'n Peak Resort in Clymer, NY; Boston Mills Ski Area in Peninsula, OH; and River Oaks Racquet Club in Rocky River, OH. Additionally, it operates specialty stores like Jack ‘n Jill Shops and Gordo's Board & Skate in Lakewood. Geiger's also sustains a robust online platform to broaden its market presence.
Early history
In 1918, Howard Geiger—brother to the company’s founder Charley Sr.—initiated a men’s clothing enterprise in Cleveland near West 75th Street and Detroit Avenue. Charley joined the venture in 1919 as the business expanded to 13 stores by 1928 but later contracted during the Great Depression.
Charley Sr. established "Charley Geiger's Haberdashery" in 1932 at Warren Road and Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. By 1936, the main store was relocated to 14710 Detroit Avenue, which today serves as Geiger's corporate headquarters. The company quickly built a strong local presence supported by nationally advertised products.
Softball
During the 1930s and 1940s, Lakewood, Ohio emerged as a global softball hub with the construction of the nation’s first illuminated softball stadium on land formerly owned by the Lakewood Tennis Club. Known as Elks' Field, this venue hosted the World Softball Championships in both 1944 and 1946. Geiger's initial sports involvement began through backing Lakewood’s Department of Recreation and adult softball leagues.
Other sports
Following World War II, Geiger's extended its sponsorship efforts to include hardball teams, Little League baseball, youth programs encompassing indoor soccer, basketball, outdoor soccer, baseball, and youth touch football. As recreational activities expanded locally, so did Geiger's men's clothing division, which grew to incorporate sporting goods offerings.
In recognition of its community impact, Geiger's was honored as "Cleveland's Best Sporting Goods Store" in 2017.
Skiing, snowboarding and winter sports
In 1961, Don Geiger—brother of Charley Jr.—initiated the ski department amid growing national interest in skiing. Geiger's became one of Ohio’s pioneering ski outfitters and remains one of only two original shops still operating in the state. The product line broadened to cover alpine and Nordic skis, snowboards, boots, accessories, plus cold-weather apparel tailored for men, women, and children.
The company has sponsored ski programs and supported former US National Ski champion Jeannie Thoren in promoting female-specific ski equipment design. Geiger's participates actively in America's Best Bootfitters—a worldwide network certifying proficiency in fitting ski and snowboard boots—a vital aspect of safe winter sports participation.
Gordon Geiger, Executive Vice President and Co-owner, holds a prominent position within the snow sports sector. He serves as Vice Chairman and past Treasurer of Snow Specialists Limited (SSL), a leading specialty retail buying group with over 60 member businesses operating more than 120 stores across 27 states. His wife Susan contributes her expertise on SSL’s Softgoods Committee.
In 2015, Gordon was appointed director of the National Ski and Snowboard Retailers Association (NSSRA), an organization dedicated to advocating pricing policies and improving vendor-retailer relations for enhanced operational effectiveness among its members.
Historic buildings
The company was established in 1932 by Charley Geiger Sr. near the site of today's Lakewood store and corporate headquarters. In 1936, he initially leased and subsequently purchased the current store at 14710 Detroit Ave., relocating all inventory to the east side. Expansion occurred in 1962 with the acquisition of an adjoining building, and by 1973 the interiors were merged into a single contiguous space.
A 100-foot white aluminum façade was added in 1975, creating a unified exterior look that lasted for over a quarter-century. In the early 2000s, Geiger's undertook a restoration project to return the buildings to their original early 20th-century architectural style, earning commendations for historic preservation efforts. Architect Rex Gilliland remarked that the renovation "restored it to its original state." This initiative garnered awards from both the Cleveland Restoration Society and AIA Cleveland in 2002, underscoring Geiger's dedication to maintaining its heritage while continuing to operate its corporate headquarters and main retail outlet.
Children's clothing
In 1961, Geiger's purchased Jack 'n Jill, Ohio’s largest exclusive children's store, from its founder Theodore F. Brooks. The Lakewood location was the last remaining store from Brooks’ original five-store chain, providing infants' and children's apparel, toys, gifts, and a layette section supervised by a registered nurse. Situated at 15015 Detroit Avenue, it featured contemporary fixtures. Eventually, Jack 'n Jill closed its doors, and its children's merchandise was absorbed into Geiger's primary store at 14710 Detroit Avenue.
Fashion
With over eight decades in fashion retail, Geiger's initially specialized in men's haberdashery when Charley Geiger Sr. relocated to the present site in 1936. The company broadened its offerings in 1980 by launching "Ladies, Ltd.," focusing on timeless women's tailoring and accessories.
The brand gradually shifted toward high-end fashion, with buyers curating selections tailored to their clientele’s preferences. During the 1980s, Geiger's operated a Pendleton Shop in Rocky River under an agreement requiring that 75% of inventory be Pendleton products. Due to increasing demand, this location moved in 1996 and later opened a second Pendleton Shop situated in Medina’s historic town square. After closing the Medina outlet in 2005 and ending the Pendleton affiliation in Rocky River, the store continued to stock Pendleton merchandise alongside traditional women’s apparel, supported by an experienced in-house tailor who ensured impeccable fit.
Following the closure of the Rocky River store, ladieswear fashion was reintegrated into Geiger's Lakewood and Chagrin Falls locations, reinforcing the company’s commitment to quality apparel and personalized customer service within its retail operations.
Downtown store
In May 2015, Geiger's revealed plans to return to downtown Cleveland by opening a new store near the upscale Heinen's grocery. This marked their first downtown presence since the original chain ceased operations there in 1929. The new location debuted in November 2015 within the renovated Truman Building (now known as The Ivory) at 1020 Euclid Ave., a historic structure built in 1911 by architect Willard Hirsch, notable for its extensive use of concrete and previous occupancy by Oppenheimer & Collins Co.
During May 2020, amid unrest following the George Floyd protests, Geiger's downtown store experienced extensive vandalism and theft, resulting in losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise as well as severe property damage alongside other businesses on Euclid Avenue.
By February 2021, due to diminished customer traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic combined with prior riot-related damages, the Geiger family announced they would close their downtown Cleveland location.