G&L Clothing
Encyclopedia
G&L Clothing is a privately held clothing
store based in Des Moines, Iowa
. It was founded in 1917 by Lou Garsh and Meyer Levine. The company is privately owned by the Marcovis family who maintain daily operations of the business. G&L Clothing sells work and casual men's clothing, specializing in big and tall sizes. They also stock work boots and other footwear.
1928, Harry Winner came to work for Levine and was made a full partner shortly after World War II. Winner continued to run the business after Meyers death in the 1960s.
In 1981 Jim Marcovis purchased G&L Clothing. Marcovis previously owned The Loft jean stores which were located in Valley West Mall
, Merle Hay Mall
and other locations. During the Great Flood of 1993
G&L Clothing expanded, nearly doubling its size. After surviving a fire and subsequent water damage the following year, a larger, more devastating blaze temporarily closed the store in late 1994. After four weeks, the store was able to reopen in the old WHO (AM)
Radio building at Eleventh and Walnut Streets in downtown Des Moines. In February 1996 the company opened its current store at 1801 Ingersoll Ave, just west of the downtown area.
retailer in the state of Iowa, and among the largest independent retail stores in the nation. Other brands sold include Levi's, Wrangler
, Dickies
, Timberland
and LaCrosse. In addition to its retail store, G&L Clothing operates its online and commercial (uniform) divisions. The store employs approximately 40 individuals including Art Nizzi who has worked at G&L Clothing for over 60 years.
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
store based in Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It was founded in 1917 by Lou Garsh and Meyer Levine. The company is privately owned by the Marcovis family who maintain daily operations of the business. G&L Clothing sells work and casual men's clothing, specializing in big and tall sizes. They also stock work boots and other footwear.
History
G&L dates back to 1917, when Lou Garsh and Meyer Levine first opened their doors. They sold work clothing, shoes and boots to railroaders, construction workers, farmers and tradesmen. Garsh left six months later, but Levine never got around to changing the name. In1928, Harry Winner came to work for Levine and was made a full partner shortly after World War II. Winner continued to run the business after Meyers death in the 1960s.
In 1981 Jim Marcovis purchased G&L Clothing. Marcovis previously owned The Loft jean stores which were located in Valley West Mall
Valley West Mall
Valley West Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall in West Des Moines, Iowa.-History:Frederick Watson, a developer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, first unveiled plans for Valley West Mall in 1971...
, Merle Hay Mall
Merle Hay Mall
Merle Hay Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. Opened in 1959, it is the oldest regional shopping center in Iowa, and was the largest mall in Iowa in terms of gross leasable area before the 2004 opening of Jordan Creek Town Center in...
and other locations. During the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
G&L Clothing expanded, nearly doubling its size. After surviving a fire and subsequent water damage the following year, a larger, more devastating blaze temporarily closed the store in late 1994. After four weeks, the store was able to reopen in the old WHO (AM)
WHO (AM)
WHO is a clear channel radio station broadcasting 50,000 watts on 1040 AM with a news/talk format. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The station can be heard over most of the continental United States during nighttime hours...
Radio building at Eleventh and Walnut Streets in downtown Des Moines. In February 1996 the company opened its current store at 1801 Ingersoll Ave, just west of the downtown area.
Today
G&L Clothing is currently the largest CarharttCarhartt
Carhartt, Inc., is a U.S.-based clothing company founded in 1889. It is still a family-owned company, owned by the descendants of company founder Hamilton Carhartt, with its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.-Carhartt in the United States:...
retailer in the state of Iowa, and among the largest independent retail stores in the nation. Other brands sold include Levi's, Wrangler
Wrangler Jeans
Wrangler is a manufacturer of jeans and other clothing items. The brand is owned by the VF Corporation, who also own Lee, JanSport and The North Face, among others. Its headquarters is in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, with production plants in a variety of locations throughout the world...
, Dickies
Dickies
Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company, more commonly referred to as the brand Dickies, is an American company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas that manufactures and sells work-related clothing and other accessories, including back packs, steel-toe boots, and belts. Its major competitors are...
, Timberland
The Timberland Company
The Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....
and LaCrosse. In addition to its retail store, G&L Clothing operates its online and commercial (uniform) divisions. The store employs approximately 40 individuals including Art Nizzi who has worked at G&L Clothing for over 60 years.