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| People come in all shapes and sizes, but you wouldn't know that by shopping for clothes or shoes in a typical department store. Nowadays, it's the average that rules the items found everywhere. If you don't fit within that average, most of the time you're out of luck. Those who wear uncommon sizes have to shop far and wide to find items that fit. And when they do find them, they usually have only a limited selection to choose from, unless they're lucky enough to find a good specialty resource. If you're a big man, a tall man or both, there's a store for you in Lincoln Square with the widest selection in the Midwest. This month, Martin's Big & Tall is celebrating 50 years of selling clothing to men who don't fall into the "one size fits all" category. |
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 Martin's didn't always cater to the big and tall man. It began as Herbert's Men's Store at 4752 N. Lincoln, across the street from its current location. Martin Kraus was a window display man who regularly visited the store to trim its windows. Over time, he developed a relationship with the store's owner. When the owner was ready to sell his store, Martin took the opportunity and made an offer to buy it. "One day, a tall guy came into my dad's store." says Martin's son, Gary. "He said, 'I can't get any shirts to fit me.' So my dad ordered a box of shirts and this guy took them all. That's how we evolved into a big and tall business." In the 1970s, Martin moved the business across the street to its current location. At that time, the store still carried standard, along with big and tall sizes.
From the start, Martin's Big & Tall has always been a family business. Current co-owners Gary and Bruce Kraus are Martin's sons. They both grew up working in the store—one of their first jobs was picking up shirt pins from the floor. Gary's wife Hillery started coming to the store when she was dating him, so they could spend more time together. "His father believed in being open all through the holiday season," recalls Hillery. "So I would come after my job finished up downtown and I would help wrap up bags and packages until 9:00." |
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| In 1979, when Martin passed away, he left the store to Gary and Bruce who kept the store's name in his honor. A few years later, a fire destroyed several businesses on Lincoln Avenue, including Martin's. Gary and Bruce rebuilt the store from the ground up and decided to dedicate it completely to the big and tall customer. About 15 years ago, they built an even larger Martin's Big & Tall in Villa Park, which is managed by Bruce and Gary's brother in law. |
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 Now Gary's son Jason, 26, has joined the business. He, too, got his start picking pins up from the carpet with his sister, Dana. (She now works as a teacher in California.) Jason has his hand in many different areas of the business, from sales to shipments and mail orders. He's also integrating computers into their systems to help manage inventory and orders. Hillery also has worked in the store for the past eight years doing sales and office work, while she handles the store's advertising and merchandising.
Not only have several generations of the Kraus family worked at Martin's Big&Tall, the store has also served several generations of customers. "We have the kids of our original customers coming now," says Hillery. The Kraus family approach to business has built a large base of loyal customers. "Sometimes they come back to shop with us even after they don't need big clothes," says Hillery. And the employees who aren't related might as well be, considering how long they stay. The manager, Murray, has worked at Martin's Big&Tall in Lincoln Square for about 20 years.
What's the secret that has kept Martin's so successful for 50 years? It's going the extra mile to serve their customers and give them what they want. "First of all, we have the largest selection in the Midwest," says Gary. "We've got socks to suits at a range of prices. And we've got a good, knowledgeable staff, including tailors on the premises." Martin's also offers a level of customer service that's uncommon in today's stores, where you're lucky if someone talks to you when you get to the register to make a purchase. If you can't find what you want in the store, Martin's will do special orders, or they'll search for the item at their other location. "Every sale is a chance to make a long-term customer," says Gary. That's one reason why Martin's customers like to come to the store "just to schmooze," according to Hillery. "We have a guy who comes in every season with a specialty from the Italian bakery for us." They even have a few famous customers. One of their biggest fans is Jay Marvin, a Talk Show Host on WLS AM radio, who just so happens to be a big guy and swears by Martin's. He does their ads during his show and will be making an in-store appearance in honor of Martin's 50th anniversary. |
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 Martin's Big & Tall carries everything you can imagine in big and tall sizes: hats, belts, shoes, underwear, coats, extra-long ties—even Hawaiian shirts. They have stock in tall sizes ranging from LT to 6XT and big sizes up to 10X. You'll find sleek black leather coats in size 8X, and jeans to fit size 80 waist. Martin's offers items from brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Perry Ellis, Petrocelli, Levi's, Polo and Pelle Pelle. Martin's even sells their own brand of socks. When Bruce was unable to find larger socks for his customers with wide feet and calves, he developed his own brand of extra wide socks, called RB Designs, that stretch up to 25 inches around. He got the patent and now sells dress and casual socks in a range of colors through both Martin's stores. "We've made a lot of people happy," says Gary about the customers who can't find basic items that they need every day. "They buy these socks from us, and they practically kiss us, they're so happy." |
| If you have a big or tall man in your life who has trouble finding comfortable or fashionable clothes, send them to Martin's Big & Tall. Martin's Lincoln Square location is open seven days a week, and has free parking available in a lot beside the store. For customers who live farther away, Martin's does a brisk mail order business and has a website. Stop by to see what they have in stock. |
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Martin's Big & Tall
4745 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.784.5853
www.martinsbigtall.com
Hours:
Monday / Thursday / Friday: 9:30am - 8:00pm
Tuesday / Wednesday / Saturday: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Sunday: Noon - 4:00pm
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| Read more profiles in the Member of the Month Archives |
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