Shaia's

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Shaia's of Homewood is a high-end men's clothier located at 2818 18th Street South in downtown Homewood. The business was founded as a traveling sales outfit by Lebanese immigrant S. G. Shaia in 1922.

In the 1930's, S. G. and his son, A. J. Shaia built a mercantile store next to the garden which adjoined their 18th Street house. The store kept growing and in the 1970s, A. J.'s sons J. L. and Leo Shaia took it over and transformed it into a specialty clothier. J. L.'s son, Ken is now a co-owner, and the fourth generation of Shaia's to run the business. The store has pulled in revenues of around $2.5 million for the last several years.

Shaia's carries a full line of formal, business and casual clothing and footwear. In it's early days, Shaia's was the area's exclusive outlet for Ralph Lauren's "Polo" label. Leading brands now carried include Giorgio Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Kiton, Lorenzini, Hugo Boss, Ferragamo and Cole-Haan.

In 1997 Shaia's was completely rebuilt in a contemporary minimalist style designed by Giattina Fisher Aycock Architects. A grapevine motif on the door pulls recalls S. G. Shaia's garden that once occupied the site.

MR Magazine named Shaia's one of the Top 25 specialty men's stores nationwide in 2005. Cargo and Esquire have both recognized the store as exceptional in the region.

References

  • Dugan, Kelli M. (March 10, 2006) "Shaia's holds its spot for style". Birmingham Business Journal.
  • Sepsas, Niki (September 2006) "The Best Names in the Business." Birmingham Magazine. Vol. 46, No. 9. p. 122

External links