R.I.P. Syms

The start of the 2012 new year saw the passing of Sym's and Filene's Basement, two clothing retailers owned by the Syms Corporation. Started in 1959 by its namesake Sy, Syms grew to over 30 stores in 13 states before declaring bankruptcy in late 2011. Filene's Basement is even older; it started in 1909 and was bought by the Syms Corporation in 2009.

I'm going to miss Syms. Although retailers come and go, it's still difficult to see them close down. A good colleague of mine will be out of work as a result. It's tough to see good people lose their jobs through no fault of their own, particularly in the current economy.

Syms is special to me also because it was a local institution. The brand originated in New York City; its first store was on Greenwich Street in lower Manhattan. Unlike Men's Warehouse it was a regional business, with most of its stores located in the Northeast United States. 

It also occupied a unique (at the time) niche in retail. Before the internet made it easy (for example, through sites such as Bluefly), finding quality men's clothing, especially suits, at discount prices was difficult. For many young men getting their first suit from Syms was a right of passage. And its tagline, "Where educated consumer is our best customer" was so smart. How many retailers openly acknowledged the type of customer they valued?  I also grew up watching their commercials on TV which, unlike the awfully sexist one below, reinforced the concept of the smart customer. 

Sym's felt like a part of New York that was unique, making it a bit more special than a retailer you could find wherever you go. It was an institution that helped people look good for less, which is a concept that should never go out of style.

R.I.P. Syms

1959-2011