Garber's Menswear

Rodney Bridges has worked in retail since he was a teenager, and he purchased Garber's Menswear when he was only 21 years old.

He'd been working at Hamra's Men's Store in Anna, Illinois, while pursuing an accounting degree from Southern Illinois University. When store owner Frank Hamra decided to expand to the Cape Giardeau market, he purchased Garber's from the retiring store owner and chose Bridges to manage the business. Not even a year later, Bridges recalls, Hamra decided to close all of his clothing stores and asked if Bridges would be interested in purchasing the Cape Girardeau store.

"He could see how I loved the business because I did start in retail on my 16th birthday. I've been in retail my whole life," says Bridges. He and his wife, Dimple, obtained an SBA loan to purchase the business in the early 1970s, and they've been at it ever since.

Back then, there were no big box stores, and Garber's was one of nine full-service men's clothing stores in the Cape Girardeau area. Today, there are probably more big box stores than "mom and pop" clothing shops, but what remains the same is the service and quality that customers expect at Garber's. The store sells everything from jeans and casual shirts to three-piece suits for the fanciest of occasions -- and the custom tailoring to go with it.

"I love to fill those needs. When a customer leaves and says they found exactly what they were looking for, it's very gratifying that they trust our store to help them," says Bridges.

Garber's latest project has been a social media focus. The business has a website and Facebook page, and maintains an email list to keep customers up to date on sales and new products.

"The secret to our success is really our customer relations. We have a wonderful following," says Bridges. "I say we're not in the clothing business, we're in the customer relations business. Once we gain a customer's trust and respect, they're going be back and be back and tell 10 people. That's the most important aspect of our business."