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Monday, June 30, 2008

Alan Jacobs on Second Avenue and Pike Street

posted by on June 30 at 10:30 AM

leroy%20mens%20wear.jpg

So, Alan, I know Leroy owns this fine establishment, but how long have you worked here?
Twenty years. The store has been here for 21 years—we used to be located where the Walgreens is now, up on Third.

I’m assuming you’ve seen some wild stuff go down, being on Pike Street for that long.
Yeah, you do see a lot of stuff here because of the location, like all the crack dealers and drugs. I’ve also seen stores though that come and try to sell the same clothing we carry, but they don’t last more than a few months.

What is up with all the gold records on the wall?
Those are friends from the KFOX days back in the ’80s. A guy, Doleman, had them in his shop and we had to do some trades to get these. They had a song out at the time called “Mack the Knife” which was the name of our old store back then.

Do recording artists stop by when they’re in town?
Oh yeah—we had George Benson not too long ago, as well as Fleetwood Mac—they bought a lot from us. The drummer from Pearl Jam has stopped in, too.

Is most of the apparel you carry from the West Coast?
A few things are from California, but mainly everything is from New York.

What’s your favorite shoe brand?
I would have to go with the Hugo Vitelli shoes. We carry a lot of these, and these are the newest ones right here.

Those are nice, really nice! Next time I need to pick up some pimp shoes, I know who to call.

* * *

Here’s the latest Leroy’s commercial starring Alan. Hey Leroy, please let me in on the next commercial! Two thumbs way up!

RSS icon Comments

1

That red suit...

Mr. Poe, what size suit do you wear and when is your birthday?

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 30, 2008 10:43 AM
2

Someday before I die I will buy a suit here. I've always wanted to. A couple of years ago Al Green played the Paramount, and there must have been forty Leroy's suits in the lobby -- spectacular.

Mr. Poe would like fine in one too, I'm sure -- but maybe the burgundy? No, you're right, the red.

Posted by Fnarf | June 30, 2008 10:48 AM
3

Only the pimpest of the pimp could get away with the white pants & guayabera number in the middle. I, unfortunately, am not one of those people.

Posted by laterite | June 30, 2008 10:54 AM
4

#3
or a member of the clergy..like myself

Posted by reverend dr dj riz | June 30, 2008 11:15 AM
5

I bought a zoot suit there a couple years ago and performed a wedding in it.

Posted by flamingbanjo | June 30, 2008 11:23 AM
6

man, i love that place, it reminds me of the places in north philly when i was a kid, and those guys know about old school dress. i bought my first two tone shoes there.

FNARF u should go with the light blue zoot suit.

again, props to this character study pieces.

Posted by SeMe | June 30, 2008 11:49 AM
7

Solid Brougham

Posted by The Gode! | June 30, 2008 11:51 AM
8

way to insult the man with your last comment.

may leroy's stay there in perpetuity.

Posted by max solomon | June 30, 2008 11:57 AM
9

Light blue is not a favorite. I usually prefer loud colors but not blue. Orange would be good. I'd love to be able to pull off mustard, but my skin tone is too pallid. Black men look FANTASTIC in mustard.

Posted by Fnarf | June 30, 2008 11:57 AM
10

BWAHAHAHAHA at that commercial.

Posted by hunh? | June 30, 2008 9:18 PM

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