Veteran Retailer of Short Men's Suits Moves to Beverly Hills
Jimmy Au’s for Men 5'8quot; and Under is going upscale.
For the past 36 years, the company carved out a niche in retailing and manufacturing suits for short men at storefronts located in several different Los Angeles County locations, such as Glendale and Torrance.
On Feb. 24, the family-owned business will be represented by a new single store in Beverly Hills. While the other locations have closed, the newest location will represent the company at its most luxurious. The 3,200-square-foot store will be located at the corner of Brighton and Canon streets, a stone’s throw from Rodeo Drive, the famed high-rolling retail street.
The new address prompted the company to trade up its inventory of suits. The suits will consist of a higher-caliber design, said Alan Au, the company’s vice president and son of founder Jimmy Au.
When selling suits from 1994–2004 at its previous location at the Glendale Galleria shopping center, the store’s buying targeted a mid-range price of suits from manufacturers such as Michael Kors, Jack Victor and Calvin Klein. In 2005, Jimmy Au’s opened a temporary store in Woodland Hills, Calif.
The move to one of the country’s best-known cities stems from necessity, Au said. The company’s 2004 study of its client roster found that the majority of its Los Angeles County customers reside in West Los Angeles, which is close to Beverly Hills. The company also believed that a West L.A. customer expected a higher- caliber suit, according to Au, so the store’s retail price points increased from $595 to $1,500.
The retailer also manufactures leather jackets and sportswear under the private label Jimmy Au. It carries clothes for men 4 feet 11 inches to 5 feet 8. Au said the reason his family’s company was able to carve out a niche in this area was that manufacturers rarely make clothes that fit men under 5 feet 9. The company has signed on horse jockeys Jerry Bailey and Gary Stevens as spokesmen. —Andrew Asch
