At the beginning of the year, Justin and Audrey Michael began getting plugged into Claremore and a vision developed.
“The idea started really from going to Claremore Collective meetings and see Claremore grow and progress, and knowing we had seven women’s boutiques at the time and nothing for a man to do,” Justin said. “There was just no reason for a man to come downtown at all.”
Enter The Haberdashery.
The Haberdashery, 407 W. Will Rogers Blvd., a modern men’s clothing and accessories store, opened in November.
“There’s a three-word phrase that people come in and say. It’s men, it’s women, and it’s always the same three words: ‘Claremore needed this,’” Justin said. “That makes us feel good, like we did what we were supposed to do.”
Claremore Collective is a young professional’s organization “assembled as one voice to move Claremore forward.”
Justin and Audrey spent countless hours in the store in the two weeks between The District on Main moving across the street and The Haberdashery opening, ripping up 2,000 square feet of carpet, painting the walls and ceilings and using 100-year-old barn wood to decorate their new place.
The Haberdashery hosts national brands like Normal Brand, Southern Marsh, Soxfords, New York and Brixton, but they also support some northeastern Oklahoma brands, including Latigo Mercantile, Two Guys Bow Ties, Helton Custom Knives and Beauty by June and Jolene.
The store is the only in Claremore to carry premium cigars. All the cigars sold are listed in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25.
Customers also can enjoy a break from shopping with a leather couch and flat screen TV right in the middle of the store. In the future, Justin said they hope to have events catered to men, a sort of Guys Night Out.
“(Owning the store) doesn’t feel like work. I like meeting everyone and hearing what they have to say, getting their feedback,” Audrey said.
The newlyweds found another added perk to their new gig.
“The best part about it for us is that we’re here together,” Justin said.
Justin and Audrey also own downtown’s Twin Oaks Hotel, which they plan to revitalize beginning next year.
“It wasn’t just about how can Audrey and I be successful and make tons of money,” Justin said. “It was about what does Claremore need for Claremore to be successful, for us to progress, for a reason that people want to live and be here, to spend their money here.”
Both said the support from the community has been overwhelming.
“We’re thankful for the response and the welcoming we’ve gotten from everyone in Claremore and out of Claremore so far,” Audrey said. “So many of the business owners and employees of the other stores have been very supportive … We are thankful for all of them.”
The Haberdashery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.