Englund’s Apparel for Men owner Frank Englund got his start in men’s clothing and furnishings at the tender age of 23, through his sales position at Deever’s Men’s Wear in the early 1960s. It wasn’t long before Frank began to dream of store ownership and so, with his wife of one year by his side, he gathered together $5000, rolled up his custom shirt sleeves, and opened his first store in the Malvern Shopping Center in October of 1964.
“I considered becoming a teacher and going to West Chester State College,” Englund reveals with a grin, adding, “When we first opened in Malvern, people were riding horses down the street! We questioned whether this location was the best. But I relied on my instincts, and it’s worked out well.”
51 years later, Englund’s Apparel continues to succeed on highly personalized service, expert tailoring and a great selection of quality men’s custom and ready-to-wear clothing from top manufacturers.
“Englund’s is one of the only area men’s stores to survive in the post-mall world. And because we rely on the classics, intertwined with new fashions, we thrive in every economy, through every trend. Our customers are loyal and know they always get the best when they come to Englund’s,” Frank stated with pride.
Frank, a West Chester native, and wife Anne raised three children and a Vietnamese ward who came to their family through their church. A five-time singles and eleven-time doubles tennis champion at Whitford Country Club, Frank’s knees may prevent him from playing the game as he once did, but his spirit remains intact. Still working full-time at age 74, he enjoys meeting today’s customers, often the children and grandchildren of past customers, who have the same need to look sharp, albeit based on different standards of fashion.
What’s the secret to Englund’s long-term success? “Give people a good product with honest pricing. Put all your heart into it, and you’ll succeed.”