Klopfenstein's

Klopfenstein's

Company type	Private (formerly)
Industry	Retail (men's apparel)
Predecessor	Uzafovage & Sampson Building menswear shop
Founded	January 1, 1909 (1909-01-01) in Tacoma, Washington, United States
Founder	Clarence F. Klopfenstein, Samuel Conrad
Defunct	1992 (1992)
Fate	Closed after divestiture by Hartmarx Corporation
Headquarters	Tacoma, Washington , United States
Area served	Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area; Alaska; Portland, Oregon
Key people	Clarence F. Klopfenstein (founder), Hugh Klopfenstein, Karl Klopfenstein
Products	Men's apparel, women's apparel (later years)
Owner	Hartmarx Corporation (late 1960s–1992)
Parent	Hartmarx Corporation (from late 1960s until 1992)

Klopfenstein's was a high-end men's apparel retailer established in 1918 in Tacoma, Washington, serving the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area. The company operated outlets in key regional shopping centers, alongside flagship locations in downtown Tacoma and Seattle, situated directly opposite the main store of Frederick & Nelson. Ownership transferred to Hartmarx from the late 1960s until the chain ceased operations in 1992.

Early Development

Clarence F. Klopfenstein, born in 1890 in Tacoma, Washington to a Mennonite family that had migrated from Iowa in 1882, began his career after high school working for a New York clothing firm, traveling throughout the Tacoma region as a sales representative.

The origins of the business date back to 1909 when Klopfenstein partnered with Samuel Conrad to acquire the Uzafovage & Sampson Building at 1321 Commerce Street in downtown Tacoma, establishing their menswear shop there.

In 1918, Klopfenstein formed a partnership with Edward Mason to operate a men's clothing store, opening their premises at 936 Pacific Avenue. Mason held the presidency while Klopfenstein served as vice-president. The company expanded by launching a Seattle location in 1924 at 1310 Second Avenue. The following year, Klopfenstein acquired Mason’s share, rebranding the business solely under his name.

Expansion and Prime Years

The store became renowned as a destination for discerning gentlemen, attracting prominent figures such as city pioneers, council members, business executives, and notable personalities like Teamster leader Dave Beck. The retail space relocated to Fourth Avenue and leadership passed to Clarence’s son, Hugh Klopfenstein.

In 1966, Klopfenstein's merged with fellow Seattle clothier Leslie - Hughes, briefly adopting the combined name Klopfenstein's - Leslie - Hughes. A year later, it moved to a newly renovated location at the corner of 6th Avenue and Pine Street within the Heffernan Building, redesigned by architects Herbert Sobel and Richard Bouillon. This upscale $500,000 store was characterized as "elegantly masculine yet inviting" and included a women's apparel section alongside its traditional men’s offerings.

Karl Klopfenstein, another son of the founder, recalled that the store became a popular meeting place for downtown businessmen who would often gather after work—sometimes engaging in casual miniature golf around displays—before heading to Rosellini’s restaurant and then home. Shortly after this relocation, Hugh sold the enterprise to Chicago-based Hartmarx Corporation, which expanded the brand by opening additional outlets in Alaska, Portland, Oregon, and numerous shopping malls throughout the Seattle region.

Final years and closure

During the summer of 1989, Klopfenstein's primary store was relocated to the newly erected Two Union Square building. The previous premises were subsequently taken over by Pierce Gallery, which later became incorporated into Pacific Place (Seattle). By 1990, financial difficulties began affecting parent company Hartmarx, making divestitures unavoidable. Rising competition from The Bon Marché and Nordstrom eroded Klopfenstein's market share, compelling it to reduce prices. With limited alternatives, Hartmarx sold Klopfenstein's alongside several other stores—including Seattle's Littler's men's store—to investors HSSA Group Ltd., which ultimately closed all locations. By the summer of 1993, every Klopfenstein store had ceased operations, shortly after the closure of Frederick & Nelson.

Chronology

• 1909 – Clarence Klopfenstein and Samuel Conrad establish their first store in downtown Tacoma
• 1918 – Klopfenstein & Mason inaugurate a new men’s store in Tacoma
• 1924 – A new Klopfenstein’s opens in downtown Seattle
• 1925 – Klopfenstein acquires full ownership; the store is rebranded simply as Klopfenstein’s
• 1939 – On May 13, an $80,000 Fourth Avenue location designed by McClelland & Jones is unveiled. Ownership transitions from father to son, Hugh
• 1950 – Store launches at the newly developed Northgate Mall
• 1960 – First expansion into Oregon with a store at Lloyd Center
• 1962 – Opening of the Aurora Village location
• 1965 – Tacoma Mall branch opens on November 26.
• 1966 – Merger with Leslie - Hughes occurs
• 1967 – Relocation to a new $500,000 facility at 6th Avenue and Pine Street in Seattle
• 1968 – Acquisition by Hartmarx Corporation
• 1984 – Clarence Klopfenstein passes away at age 93.
• 1989 – Downtown outlet moves again to Two Union Square
• 1992 – Hartmarx divests the Klopfenstein’s division; all stores shuttered by summer 1993

References

• Humphrey, Clark. Vanishing Seattle. San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Publishing, 2006. Print.

External links

• Advertisement for Klopfenstein's from the 1927 University of Washington yearbook (Tyee)