Last Independent Business at Mayfair Mall Packing Up, Moving West

WAUWATOSA – After 55 years at the Mayfair Mall, Richard Bennett Tailors is moving to Brookfield Square Mall and building a new, larger store, owner David Miller said today.

"A lot of our customer base that was downtown has moved west to industrial and business parks in Moreland and along Highway F, Highway 64 and I-90 over the years. We're following our customers to make it more convenient for them," Miller said. "The move also gives us an opportunity to evolve by updating our store and product offerings."

An inventory sale at the store opens to the public on Thursday, June 9, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and continues at those hours each day except Sunday, when the store is open 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Miller's store is the last independently owned business at Mayfair Mall. His father, Elmer, opened the business in 1961 -- only six years after the mall opened. It was one of seven original Richard Bennett Tailors stores around the country that featured an innovative photometric custom-fitting technology.

"All we sold back then was custom suits, pants and shirts for men and women. As our customers and their tastes have changed, we've changed too. We continue to offer custom-made apparel, but we also carry a lot of other product lines, too," Miller said. "We carry product lines for younger guys who are a slimmer fit, but we're one of the few stores that carry lines for men who don't wear that trimmer style."

Miller began working at the store in 1980 and became a full-time employee in 1983 following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His son, Matt, is the company's third generation. "He has raised our internet profile and helped us to pursue that younger clientele," Miller said. "His influence has been great. He's inspired me."